rude

adjective

ˈrüd 

ruder; rudest

1

: lacking refinement or delicacy:

a

: offensive in manner or action : discourteous

shocked by their rude behavior

It was rude to keep us waiting.

b

: inelegant, uncouth

had rude table manners

c

: ignorant, unlearned

d

: uncivilized

e

: coarse, vulgar

rude jokes/language

2

a

: being in a rough or unfinished state : crude

b

: natural, raw

rude cotton

c

: primitive, undeveloped

… peasants use rude wooden plows …

—Jack Raymond

d

: simple, elemental

… we spread a rude sort of awning …

—Herman Melville

3

: marked by or suggestive of lack of training or skill : inexperienced

rude workmanship

4

: robust, sturdy

in rude health

5

: occurring abruptly and disconcertingly

a rude awakening

rudely adverb

Synonyms of rude

• disrespectful
• discourteous
• impolite
• blunt
• inconsiderate
• abrupt
• thoughtless
• ungracious
• arrogant
• unmannerly
• uncivil
• gruff
• impertinent
• curt
• improper
• uncalled-for

Choose the Right Synonym for rude

rude, rough, crude, raw mean lacking in social refinement.

rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

Examples of rude in a Sentence

I was shocked by her rude behavior.

I can't believe that he was so rude to me.

I heard someone make a rude noise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Were my siblings rude to ignore my plan and take them for themselves? — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

An alligator with a sense of humor knocked on a North Carolina woman’s front door in the middle of the night, and the rascal got a rather rude response. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026

No rude reality intrudes on Avedon’s dream city, where the women are beautiful and in love and even the bystanders are charmed. — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Which was frankly rude, since it’s been living in my house for a decade. — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin rudis; probably akin to Latin rudus rubble

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing rude

• in for a rude shock
• in rude health
• rude awakening
• rude shock

Rhymes for rude

• blued
• booed
• brewed
• brood
• chewed
• cooed
• coude
• crude
• cued
• dude
• feud
• food

Kids Definition

rude

adjective

ˈrüd 

ruder; rudest

1

: impolite

2

: not refined or cultured

3

: being sudden and forceful

a rude awakening

4

: being in a rough or unfinished state : roughly made

rudely adverb

rudeness noun