crud

noun

ˈkrəd How to pronounce crud (audio)
Definition of crudnext
1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something you must have stepped in something, because there's crud all over your shoe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bastard
slang a person whose behavior is offensive to others I don't care how hip that clothing store is, their employees behave like absolute cruds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crud That includes self emptying debris into a washable bin that should hold up to a month's worth of crud, cleaning its own mop pad with hot water and drying it with hot air, and self-refilling with clean water from a tank inside its dock. — New Atlas, 8 Mar. 2026 In addition, deep cleaning the crud out of appliances extends lifespan and functionality. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026 Generous tip and tail rocker ensures effortless flotation in powder and spring slush, and the ski’s responsive nature makes navigating crud and chop surprisingly intuitive. — Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 19 Nov. 2025 But my 7-year-old needs to go to second grade, and there's just going to be crud that comes home. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crud
  1. dirt
  2. jerk
  3. muck
  4. dog
  5. soil
  6. clown
  7. sludge
  8. skunk
Noun
  • Video of the attack showed Levine lying on her side on a dirt path with her hands over her face as at least three settlers surrounded her.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Piles of dirt were placed on tarps, transferred into buckets and carefully sifted under a tent as crews searched for potential evidence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • From award-winning jerk pork wraps to classic rice and peas, every bite celebrates our heritage.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • Wolf has never sounded more grounded than with 10 toes down in the muck.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • As feminists fought patriarchy’s attempt to render women vulnerable socially and leave us dependent on men for money and more, the all-too-human inevitability of vulnerability and dependence got lost in the muck.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • Which dog breeds tend to live the longest If longevity is the priority, a handful of smaller breeds routinely post the longest lifespans, according to breed data compiled by Reader’s Digest.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Much has been made of Winter’s idiosyncratic star power, and as an extremely tall, wet-dog-handsome instrumental virtuoso with a one-of-a-kind voice and just enough self-aware wit and lacerating lyricism to keep it relatable, that’s indisputable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • Obviously, the network of partners and proxies did not deter an attack on Iranian soil.
    — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The work raises new questions about soil, carbon, and even what counts as an individual organism.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • Jean pays tribute to the oversized trousers worn by rodeo clowns.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The gasoline shortage has become such a feature of daily life that even clowns at Moscow’s circus have cracked jokes about it.
    — Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • Just a noxious river of sludge and foul wind enveloping everything in the vicinity.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Parkdale said Ciclo has been tested using ASTM and ISO methods in seawater, soil, wastewater sludge and biologically active landfill conditions.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • Officials say the last animal confirmed to have rabies that wasn’t a bat was a skunk infected with the bat strain of rabies in Long Beach in 2014.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • And coyotes regulate populations of mesocarnivores like skunks and raccoons, helping support the survival of ground-nesting birds.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of skunk

Browse Nearby Words

crucifying
crud
cruddy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crud. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All