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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
evenings in those mountains, even during the summer, tend to be a little raw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in rampant
showing no signs of being under control
a frightening display of raw anger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in naked
lacking or shed of clothing
a pristine stretch of sand where beachgoers commonly sunbathe raw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 raw
Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Cauliflower Cauliflower is another cruciferous vegetable that may cause bloating when eaten raw.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 6 Jan. 2026
Marley Dewey, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
These ones turn out amazing—topped with sugar in the raw.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 22 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for raw
Adjective
Part of that is the raw cost of goods rising, especially on a product that already was expensive with thin profit margins.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Cauliflower Cauliflower is another cruciferous vegetable that may cause bloating when eaten raw.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
If ingested raw, pathogens may remain on the surface of the placenta.
—Marley Dewey, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
These ones turn out amazing—topped with sugar in the raw.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 22 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for raw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raw
Adjective
-
Always thoroughly wash your hands after handling and preparing food, especially raw or uncooked products.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Always thoroughly wash your hands after handling and preparing food, especially raw or uncooked meats and produce.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
Freep.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jokic didn’t overtake Jamal Murray as Denver’s leading scorer until their seventh game of the season, after a 33-point performance Wednesday against a Miami Heat frontcourt that was woefully undersized and inexperienced the instant Bam Adebayo exited with a foot injury.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Henderson has struggled in that role as a rookie, and Jennings is inexperienced at the pro level.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Use extra caution near the surf zone as these large waves will be capable of sweeping people into the frigid and turbulent ocean water.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The story of the Platonic representation hypothesis paper began in early 2023, a turbulent time for AI researchers.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Army nurse Holley Lynn James' disappearance in 2008 would set off a chilling investigation that would unravel into a case marked by fire, secrets and deception.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
One student asked what the justices would say to those who feel Kirk’s shooting had a chilling effect on conservative speech on campus.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The conservative activist’s 42-minute video posted the day after Christmas quickly spread, prompting stepped up immigration enforcement, frozen federal funds and more biting rhetoric against the Somali community from President Donald Trump.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This could make for an intriguing shootout between Maye and Baker Mayfield, who is playing the best ball of his career and has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off to a 6-2 start despite rampant injuries along his offensive line and wide receiving unit.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Comparisons to the work of the Coen brothers were rampant and not always positive.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The system uses the infrared wavelength—invisible to the naked eye—as opposed to visible light to prevent the signals from interfering with the residual peripheral vision the subjects still have.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Jenner offered a peek into her beachy surroundings by sharing pictures of a cloudy sky, ripples of water hitting the sand, and herself sitting naked in front of a clear blue ocean.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
While the film — about a woman torn between two brothers — didn’t have anything that would qualify as nudity today, its scenes of Bardot undressing and dancing barefoot to African music scandalized viewers in France and America.—
Angelina Rascouet,
Fortune,
28 Dec. 2025
-
The Florida Legislature outlawed full nudity at beaches, and the state then tried closing Haulover’s nude beach in 1994.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
26 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raw. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share