lewd

adjective

ˈlüd 

1

a

: obscene, vulgar

lewd remarks

b

: sexually unchaste or licentious (see licentious sense 1)

lewd behavior

2

obsolete : evil, wicked

lewdly adverb

lewdness noun

Synonyms of lewd

• obscene
• pornographic
• vulgar
• foul
• nasty
• dirty
• filthy

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 on the Web

The teen reported the incident shortly after the trip, leading to the driver – identified as 39-year-old Jose Miguel Perez-Molina – being charged with lewd and lascivious conduct, police said. —Doug Myers, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

The male captain, 60-year-old Micheal Haak, was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act on the 2020 flight. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025

His stepfather pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious behavior with a minor. —Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Kutay Satiroglu, 45, was already in county jail on charges of trafficking and lewd and lascivious conduct on a minor since being arrested last week. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for lewd

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

Kids Definition

lewd

adjective

ˈlüd 

1

: showing interest in sex in a rude manner

lewd behavior

2

: indecent

lewd remarks

lewdly adverb

lewdness noun

Legal Definition

lewd

adjective

ˈlüd 

: 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