raw 1 of 2

Definition of rawnext
1
as in uncooked
not cooked you should wash your hands after handling raw chicken

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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raw

2 of 2

noun

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective raw differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of raw are crude, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When might crude be a better fit than raw?

The words crude and raw can be used in similar contexts, but crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could rough be used to replace raw?

The meanings of rough and raw largely overlap; however, rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When is rude a more appropriate choice than raw?

The words rude and raw are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 raw
Adjective
The Indianapolis 500 has always rewarded more than raw speed. Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 However, the success of Musk, and subsequently Tesla, wasn’t necessarily driven by charisma, luck, or even raw intelligence alone, according to McNeill. Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Noun
They can even be blanched or used raw in salads. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026 Once the nuts are washed, dried, de-husked and de-shelled, they can either be cooked or prepared raw. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raw
Adjective
  • The yogurt softens the uncooked oats, giving them a more pleasant texture and mellowing any chalkiness.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 12 May 2026
  • Lift edges of egg and let uncooked portion flow underneath.
    Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The key with this inexperienced crew is patience.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2026
  • When junior employees ask similar questions, it may be interpreted as being unprepared or inexperienced.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • The collapse of its currency is changing that—placing Jakarta at the center of a turbulent 2026.
    William Pesek, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • The shutdown adds to a turbulent stretch for Madrigal’s restaurant empire.
    Reeti Malhotra May 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • One year before his television empire began with Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan wrote and directed this absorbing neo-Western mystery about the chilling death of an 18-year-old Native American young woman.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
  • The coroner’s report is chilling, listing multiple factors besides cardiac arrest that figured in her death.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 May 2026
  • The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Even before auditions started, there’s been rampant speculation about who might wield Bond’s Walther PPK, with everyone from Jacob Elordi to Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumored to be in contention for the role.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 14 May 2026
  • Dalila Santiago, a close friend and leader in López’s movement, said after rampant impunity in Honduras, Fúnez’s detention came as a shock.
    Marlon González, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • Spider mites, which are difficult to see with the naked eye, appear mostly in dry conditions and cause speckled or mottled leaves that later turn yellow.
    Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 19 May 2026
  • Cynteria’s naked body was found in August 2000 on a grassy swale next to Miami Edison High School.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The Swedish Film Institute’s Cinemateket, meanwhile, hosted Svenska Synden – a retrospective examining how Swedish cinema’s permissive approach to nudity and sexuality became an international phenomenon that alarmed censors around the world.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 May 2026
  • In other corners, opinions ran hot about rampant nudity in the Austrian Pavilion.
    Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raw. Accessed 26 May. 2026.

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