1
as in raw
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining
a sizable spill of crude oil along a coastline is the worst kind of environmental disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in primitive
belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development
the crude stone tools that those prehistoric peoples used
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vulgar
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
crude jokes can be considered sexual harassment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste
any discussion of one's money is considered crude by the club's blue-blooded members
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
a crude hut that was constructed by some shipwrecked sailors
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 crude
The European Union, once a top Kremlin customer, has banned all seaborne imports of Russian crude oil, and whittled Moscow’s share of its natural gas imports delivered via pipeline to about 11% last year, from more than 40% in 2021.
—
Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The three countries combine to produce more than 40% of global crude oil supplies daily: After them, no other country produces much more than 5 million barrels a day.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted Monday that falling crude oil prices paved the way for falling gas prices in most states, but not in Florida and Michigan, where prices cycled upward.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Among the wider public, the sentiment has been less crude, but still characterized by deflection.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crude
Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The three countries combine to produce more than 40% of global crude oil supplies daily: After them, no other country produces much more than 5 million barrels a day.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted Monday that falling crude oil prices paved the way for falling gas prices in most states, but not in Florida and Michigan, where prices cycled upward.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Among the wider public, the sentiment has been less crude, but still characterized by deflection.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
-
More: These influencers, RFK Jr. can't get enough of raw milk.—
Mark Harper,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Their model beat night light analysis by a wide margin at the neighborhood scale, showing how machine learning can turn raw imagery into detailed economic insights.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
-
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
Her choice to respond by telling me to 'shut the f*** up' and to 'calm my p*****' was vulgar, dismissive and escalated the issue entirely.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
-
As deadly wildfires raged across Southern California in January, a Los Angeles city official lamented to the city council and others how they were forced to listen to hateful, vulgar language from some members of the public.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The idea that women should lose the right to vote is shaping up to be more than a crass punchline or a dystopian viewpoint, but one that Pete Hegseth, a member of the president’s cabinet, appears to agree with.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
12 Aug. 2025
-
To achieve this encyclopedic scope, Joyce opened every door between the divine thought of Thomas Aquinas and crass Dublin newspaper ads.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Any move to unify systems and say goodbye to clumsy data management couldn't be more crucial—or opportune.—
Charles Crouchman,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Every summer a disposable camera was tucked into my camp bag, where clumsy photos, often with a thumb peeking in, were snapped with reckless abandon.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The natural color variations seem like just the thing to tie together a room with a more neutral color palette, à la Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Fighting your natural rhythms guarantees mediocre output.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Sometimes the eyes are indifferent, mechanical, assessing the body as rudimentary meat.—
Akwaeke Emezi
August 18,
Literary Hub,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Some are fairly rudimentary – while others are extremely sophisticated and skilled.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
To authenticate Trump's note and the obscene drawing that accompanied it, Journal reporters claim to have seen the album and talked to people knowledgeable about it.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share