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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

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 price of crude oil in the U.S. fell 0.4% to $65.52 a barrel. Damian J. Troise, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025 The increase comes as oil markets respond to rising tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States, which have driven up crude oil prices globally. Ashley Fredde, Idaho Statesman, 26 June 2025 For example, China imports roughly three-quarters of its crude oil from overseas, with over 43% of the crude oil that China does import coming from the Middle East. Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 With the second-largest gas reserves in the world and the fourth-largest crude oil reserves, Iran is one of the world’s major energy producers. Bora Erden, New York Times, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for crude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
  • The advantages extend far beyond raw performance numbers.
    Siyu Huang, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Joel Alfonso Vargas brings raw authenticity and lyrical vision to a coming-of-age story that pulses with life and urgency.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 July 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
  • Using vulgar, profane or indecent language in a loud or boisterous manner in the presence of children.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 June 2025
  • Between 12% and 13.3% of Americans, around 10% of Brits, and 9.4% of Australians used at least one vulgar word in their data.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • Most Popular Most Popular Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen’s crisis Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen's crisis Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
  • But beyond the crass remarks about Read, experts say less explosive messages about Proctor's early opinions of the investigation could be damning.
    Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Herbert includes a range of moments, from earnest attempts to talk about the enslaved people that maintained all these palatial homes to clumsier ones in which they are referred to as workers, insinuating that their labor was paid for instead of forced.
    Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
  • The aftermath of Virginia’s clumsy tumble into a rose bed where her exposed cleavage is profusely pricked by thorns lasts for all of one scene.
    Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • But their back-and-forth reveals a natural chemistry between the two writers.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 27 June 2025
  • Plums make their presence known along roadsides and in natural areas in spring when fragrant white blooms cover their bare branches.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike the predictable drawers that pull out, this style slides out to the side, so pulling out paper clips feels more like an event than a rudimentary task.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2025
  • Chávez even lost in 2021 to Anderson Silva, the former UFC champion and rudimentary boxer who lost a one-sided ring decision to Paul one year later.
    Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • The ex-data processor for the Boston Transportation Department was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of: rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025
  • But the legal standard for what qualifies as obscene is extremely high.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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