lewd

play

adjective \ ˈlüd \

Definition of lewd

1 obsolete :evil, wicked

2 a :sexually unchaste or licentious (see licentious 1)

lewd behavior

b :obscene, vulgar

lewd remarks

—

lewdly

adverb

—

lewdness

noun

See lewd defined for English-language learners

See lewd defined for kids

Examples of lewd in a Sentence

He made lewd remarks to the woman at the bar.
bystanders were shocked by the lewd behavior of the couple in the park

Recent Examples of lewd from the Web

A $25-million case in which a Taylor woman claims Morse made lewd remarks, rubbed against her and grabbed her buttocks at a Christmas party.

— jc reindl, Detroit Free Press, "Prosecutor: No criminal charges against Mike Morse in restaurant groping case," 21 Aug. 2017
Interrogation Six months later, Bradford, a 22-year-old married father of two, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct for exposing himself to women in the same neighborhood where the rape victim lived.

— sara jean green, The Seattle Times, "Will new DNA evidence vindicate Yakima man cleared in 1995 rape?," 31 July 2017
Kirchner was commonly referred to as a female horse and Rousseff's likeness appeared on a lewd car decal.

— claire zillman, Fortune, "The World’s Most Powerful Women: July 25," 25 July 2017
But this isn't anything new — Trump's history is filled with allegations of lewd behavior and disgusting remarks.

— de elizabeth, Allure, "Donald Trump Told French First Lady Brigitte Macron That She's "In Such Good Shape"," 13 July 2017
There, a casting director reportedly told her that many casting agents take audition tapes home, watch them, and make lewd comments about the actresses in them.

— devon ivie, SELF, "Lena Headey Says She Lost Roles for Not Flirting With Casting Directors," 7 July 2017
The gang’s all here: the domineering matriarch, the developmentally disabled youngster, the lewd uncle, etc.

— maxwell williams, The Hollywood Reporter, "Behind 'The Willows': L.A.'s Buzzy New Immersive Theater Experience," 30 June 2017
Each count of lewd conduct with a child younger than age 16 is punishable by up to life in prison.

— kristin rodine, idahostatesman, "Man charged with lewd conduct was a school bus driver in Meridian," 30 June 2017
English, now 65, served more than a dozen years behind bars following his 2004 conviction on lewd molestation charges.

— chris harris, PEOPLE.com, "Recently-Released Child Molester Moves in Next Door to Victim — and It’s Legal: ‘The Law is Not on Our Side’," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lewd.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lewd

Middle English lewed vulgar, from Old English lǣwede laical, ignorant

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

lewd Synonyms

Synonyms

bawdy, blue, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, gutter, impure, indecent, lascivious, obscene, locker-room, nasty, pornographic, porny, profane, raunchy, ribald, smutty, stag, trashy, unprintable, vulgar, wanton, X-rated

Antonyms

clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene, wholesome

Near Antonyms

priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced (or straightlaced), Victorian; correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly; innocuous, inoffensive; acceptable, agreeable, desirable, pleasant, pleasing, welcome; appropriate, becoming, fit, meet, suitable; immaculate, perfect, pure, spotless, virginal; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned

LEWD Defined for English Language Learners

lewd

play

adjective

Definition of lewd for English Language Learners

: sexual in an offensive or rude way

Law Dictionary

lewd

play

adjective \ ˈlüd \

legal Definition of lewd

:involving or being sexual conduct that is considered indecent or offensive :licentious

convicted of lewd and lascivious assault upon a child
—National Law Journal

—

lewdly

adverb

—

lewdness

noun

Learn More about lewd

See words that rhyme with lewd Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lewd Spanish Central: Translation of lewd Nglish: Translation of lewd for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lewd for Arabic speakers

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Examples of lewd in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of lewd

lewd Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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LEWD Defined for English Language Learners

lewd

Definition of lewd for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

lewd

legal Definition of lewd

lewdly

lewdness

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