ruder; rudest
1
: not having or showing concern or respect for the rights and feelings of other people : not polite
He made rude remarks/gestures.
I was shocked by her rude behavior.
I can't believe that he was so rude to me.
It is rude (of/for you) to always keep us waiting for you.
2
: relating to sex or other body functions in a way that offends others
rude jokes
I heard someone make a rude noise.
3
always used before a noun
: happening suddenly in usually an unpleasant or shocking way
If you think this job is going to be easy, you're in for a rude shock. [=you will be unpleasantly shocked when you find out that this job is not easy at all]
He's about to have a rude awakening. [=he's about to find out something that will shock him unpleasantly]
4
literary
: made or done in a simple or rough way : crude
a rude stone farmhouse
Cite this Entry
“Rude.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/rude. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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