rude

adjective

\ ˈrüd

ruder; rudest

Definition of rude

1a : 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

2 : lacking refinement or delicacy:

a : ignorant, unlearned

b : inelegant, uncouth

c : offensive in manner or action : discourteous

d : uncivilized, savage

e : coarse, vulgar

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

Other Words from rude Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about rude

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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

That ends up just being a rushed over-the-shirt back rub, but everyone still complains this is a rude move. — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, "The Bachelor Season 23, Episode 2 Recap: Is Demi This Season's Villain?," 14 Jan. 2019 To avoid being lumped in with generic or rude Furby content on the platform, the true Furby fans on Tumblr label their posts with #furbyfandom. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, Vox, "Every Furby gets a home," 21 Dec. 2018 His hair reaches well past his shoulders, which is apparently an issue for some people who have no say in the child's life — but that didn't stop them from making rude remarks. — Marci Robin, Teen Vogue, "Instagram Trolls Shamed Kourtney Kardashian for Her Son’s Long Hair," 26 Nov. 2018 Last year, the nation's subway systems got a rude awakening when a man attempted to set off an amateur pipe bomb in a walkway connecting New York's Times Square and Port Authority subway stations. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Body Scanners Are Leaking Out of the Airport and Into the Subway," 16 Aug. 2018 Possibly, but those people are rude, say our expert sources. — Kelsey Kloss, ELLE Decor, "What's The Difference: Couch Vs. Sofa?," 30 Sep. 2016 Donald Trump is about to get a very rude reception on his latest overseas trip. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, "Green Day's 'American Idiot' Re-Enters British Charts Before Trump Visit," 10 July 2018 Some, like selling the British Asda stores, were welcomed by Wall Street, but Wednesday’s deal got a rude welcome from investors, who raised concerns about Flipkart’s steep losses and asked whether Walmart’s cash would be better spent elsewhere. — Fortune, "Walmart's $16 Billion Flipkart Buy Is Part of a Global Strategy. Here's What Could Happen Next," 10 May 2018 Having a phone conversation while sitting in the dining area is rude to not only the person sharing your table, but the rest of the restaurant's guests as well. — Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, "Why the Staff at Fancy Restaurants Wish You Would Put Your Phone Away," 27 Aug. 2018

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