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
After launching in 2001, this sheer nude-pink quickly became one of OPI's highest-selling polishes, with millions of bottles sold. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025 Keep them minimal with black on nude for the office or mix bold colors for brunch with the girls. Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
For a sophisticated look, try neutral heels such as black or nude. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025 Conor McGregor kept his birthday plans going amid his alleged nudes all over the net — courtesy of Azealia Banks. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for nude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nude
Adjective
  • What to expect Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The cloth, bearing an image of a naked man with long hair and a beard, as well as reddish-brown stains resembling wounds from crucifixion, quickly became popular.
    Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Williams, a 77-year-old Alaskan Athabascan Indian who has lived in East Oakland since the early 1970s, finds plenty of reasons to despise the artwork, the most visceral being its nudity.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
  • These violations, perpetrated primarily against Ukrainian prisoners of war, include genital violence such as electrocution, beatings and burns to the genitals, and forced stripping and prolonged nudity, used to humiliate and elicit confessions or information.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nude. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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