nude 1 of 2

nude

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noun

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body the artist painted some models in the nude

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective nude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nude are bald, bare, barren, and naked. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

In what contexts can bald take the place of nude?

While in some cases nearly identical to nude, bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is bare a more appropriate choice than nude?

While the synonyms bare and nude are close in meaning, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When can barren be used instead of nude?

The meanings of barren and nude largely overlap; however, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When would naked be a good substitute for nude?

The synonyms naked and nude are sometimes interchangeable, but naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

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 nude
Adjective
Her lipstick color settled somewhere between nude and pale pink. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 5 June 2025 The gloss comes in two nude shades, one that’s fair-medium and another that’s medium-deep, to enhance your lips’ natural color and add a glossy sheen. Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 4 June 2025
Noun
Martone was targeted with a deepfake nude that was shared on social media and emailed to her employer, urging them to fire her. Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Classic reds and burgundies aside, there are a host of pinks, nudes, and mauves to play with too—20 in total—to suit any look. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for nude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nude
naked
Adjective
  • Simply, the naked eye is capable of spotting the colorful display from Earth if the weather conditions cooperate.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 12 June 2025
  • The union was not designed for this kind of naked coercion, and the White House should not be surprised, then, when the blue state targets of Trump's abuse start thinking a little more carefully about their options.
    David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nude. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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