1
2
as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining
raw sugar is honey-colored because the crystals retain cane juices, minerals, and other impurities that haven't been refined out
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in inexperienced
lacking in adult experience or maturity
recruiters like to say the military turns raw youths into responsible men and women
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4
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
the day of the funeral turned out to be one of those bleak, blustery, raw winter days that was as gloomy as our spirits
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5
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
evenings in those mountains, even during the summer, tend to be a little raw
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6
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
bundle up if you're going sailing, as there's a raw wind out there in the bay
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7
as in rampant
showing no signs of being under control
a frightening display of raw anger
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8
as in naked
lacking or shed of clothing
a pristine stretch of sand where beachgoers commonly sunbathe raw
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as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body
a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of raw
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 7 Mar. 2026
PhotoVogue's 'Pic of the Day' is a celebration of the power of photography to capture moments of beauty, raw emotion, and human connection.
—Daniel Rodríguez Gordillo, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026
Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 June 2025
If ingested raw, pathogens may remain on the surface of the placenta.
—Marley Dewey, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for raw
Adjective
To really pick at this raw nerve, Menzies returns to narrate these passages from Frank’s book and taunt Jamie’s subconscious.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 7 Mar. 2026
PhotoVogue's 'Pic of the Day' is a celebration of the power of photography to capture moments of beauty, raw emotion, and human connection.
—Daniel Rodríguez Gordillo, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Lina is played by the ghoulishly-great Betty Gilpin, who does in her craft what real-life Lina does in her soul—glitter in the raw.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 June 2025
If ingested raw, pathogens may remain on the surface of the placenta.
—Marley Dewey, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for raw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raw
Adjective
-
The price of uncooked ground beef has increased about 15% since February 2025, according to the CPI data.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of burning your fingers, light a piece of uncooked spaghetti.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Pidgeon came in with a brunette bob, which, given the length of her natural hair, could be detected if left to inexperienced stylists.—
Kirbie Johnson,
Allure,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The roster is young and inexperienced — Sands is the only returning starter from last season — and the Tommies dealt with the predictable growing pains.—
Dean Spiros,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With this goal in mind, this unusually turbulent moment may be the perfect time for family offices to make sure their plans still make sense and position them well for the next century.—
Belinda G. Schwartz,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The leadership change comes at a turbulent moment for the Los Angeles Unified School District, which serves more than 540,000 students.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Once the flowers and foliage fade, the bulbs should be dug up from the garden, allowed to dry, and stored until the fall to begin the chilling process again.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In addition, staff writer Eric Sondheimer placed in the top 10 for short features for his report highlighting the chilling impact ICE raids had on high school football workouts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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The bulk of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull, the biting point of a shark tooth, the startling familiarity of a hominin footprint—and then there’s the charm inherent to any sample of regurgitalite, the paleontological term for fossilized vomit.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Others are here because their parents are seeking refuge from countries where violence is rampant and children are at risk of being forced into drug cartels, human trafficking or worse.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Since 2022, when the state published its audit report, California's Department of Public Health has issued enforcement actions against seven hospice facilities statewide — despite the state auditor warning that fraud was rampant.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The case back then also involved the bodies of naked, mutilated women, plus all the sexism and homophobia that were pervasive in police work in 1998 and are apparently ship-shape today.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
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But the oven truly stands out for its small details that may not be as noticeable to the naked eye.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Running from the law Enforcement of the nudity ban has never been a high priority, but in March 1994 police rushed onto the beach in force, with a helicopter buzzing overhead.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
An architect by training, Censori, 31, has been an enigmatic and largely silent fixture in West’s orbit for years, making her statements mostly through provocative performance art that often incorporates public nudity.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raw. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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