Definition of crudenext
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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective crude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crude are raw, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could raw be used to replace crude?

In some situations, the words raw and crude are roughly equivalent. However, raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When would rough be a good substitute for crude?

The words rough and crude can be used in similar contexts, but rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When might rude be a better fit than crude?

The synonyms rude and crude are sometimes interchangeable, but rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
  • You’ll be rewarded with the raw, unbridled beauty that will stay with you for a lifetime.
    Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • On the west coast, Sal Salis offers a raw, deeply immersive connection to land and sea where luxury is defined by simplicity, seclusion and the untouched beauty of Cape Range National Park.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • Through the use of backlighting, their silhouettes will be thrown onto the facing walls to form a shadow sculpture evoking primitive graffiti or a hieroglyphic-like language.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
  • However, several primitive campsites, boat ramps, and fishing piers sprinkled across the area give plenty of access to enjoy the lake at your leisure.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Apparently some fans were using some vulgar language toward Brunson in Game 1.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 June 2026
  • Doolan also received several emails calling her a vulgar word that typically refers to women.
    Maven Navarro June 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • The service There’s nothing as crass as a check-in desk here.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • In fact, the very term anti-Semitism was popularized by Wilhelm Marr, a German nationalist who sought to distinguish his anti-Jewish ideology from the crass bigotry of the common folk by dressing his hate up in pseudoscientific terms.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
Adjective
  • After the zapfest on Earth, the anti-climactic tussle between the forces of good and evil occurs back on Eternia, where He-Man and his nemesis cross swords in a clumsy fight that’s not only predictable but also photographed and edited poorly.
    Jeffrey Ressner, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026
  • The simple walking pattern adopted by fish, which the Cambridge researchers call an ‘undulating tripod gait’, can appear to be quite clumsy and involves too much flopping.
    Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • Explore historic landmarks, cultural sites and natural wonders across the South that define the American story.
    USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • Leaving porch lights on overnight can also have potential negative impacts on nature, confusing them and disrupting their natural behaviors, Harshbarger says.
    Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • But the filmic quality of the album lies less in any conventionally cinematic progression and more in Rossetto’s ability to imbue even the most rudimentary sounds with vivid detail and perspective.
    Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 9 June 2026
  • Stalled by the pandemic, the festival’s inaugural edition took place in Jeddah’s Al-Balad old city neighborhood in 2021 with a make-shift cinema, rudimentary industry hub and a smattering of A-list guests and has since grown into one of the biggest film festivals in the Middle East.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • It was seized by the post office (as Rosset had expected) and duly declared obscene by the postmaster of the city of New York, a man named Robert Christenberry.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • Who says a man can’t appreciate the gleaming, obscene form of an Aston Martin supercar or the growl of its overpriced engine?
    Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

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