rude
adjective
ˈrüd 
ruder; rudest
1
a
: being in a rough or unfinished state : crude
b
: natural, raw
rude cotton
c
: primitive, undeveloped
peasants use rude wooden plows
Jack Raymond
Jack Raymond d
: simple, elemental
2
: lacking refinement or delicacy:
a
: ignorant, unlearned
b
: inelegant, uncouth
c
: offensive in manner or action : discourteous
d
: uncivilized, savage
e
: coarse, vulgar
3
: marked by or suggestive of lack of training or skill : inexperienced
rude workmanship
4
: robust, sturdy
in rude health
5
: occurring abruptly and disconcertingly
a rude awakening
rudely adverb
Synonyms
- artless
- clumsy
- crude
- jerry-built
- jerry-rigged
- jury-rigged
- rough
- rough-and-ready
- rough-and-tumble
- rough-hewn
- unrefined
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I was shocked by her rude behavior. I can't believe that he was so rude to me. I heard someone make a rude noise.
Recent Examples on the Web Comments on the video are split between those who side with the mother-to-be and people criticizing her for being rude. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Why: Wearing any other designer would just be rude. Claire Stern, ELLE, 1 Sep. 2022 Correction: This article was amended to clarify only one person in the WHO team was rude and yelled at Lidia Morawska during the April 2020 meeting. Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 26 Aug. 2022 The updates could be a rude awakening for some companies. Megan Graham, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 In March 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic delivered global supply chains a rude awakening. Jake Medwell, Fortune, 14 June 2022 That's already rude, but what's worse is that after your unfriendly visitor fades, a dark spot pops up in its place. ELLE, 22 July 2022 Balbo said Gregory McMichael had no hesitation renting properties to Black people while at the same time acknowledging the elder McMichael used rude language to describe a Black tenant. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2022 Macron, who is expected to seek re-election later this year, made headlines earlier this week by using rude language in reference to the country’s minority of unvaccinated people. Samuel Petrequin, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Jan. 2022 See More
Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Why: Wearing any other designer would just be rude. Claire Stern, ELLE, 1 Sep. 2022 Correction: This article was amended to clarify only one person in the WHO team was rude and yelled at Lidia Morawska during the April 2020 meeting. Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 26 Aug. 2022 The updates could be a rude awakening for some companies. Megan Graham, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 In March 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic delivered global supply chains a rude awakening. Jake Medwell, Fortune, 14 June 2022 That's already rude, but what's worse is that after your unfriendly visitor fades, a dark spot pops up in its place. ELLE, 22 July 2022 Balbo said Gregory McMichael had no hesitation renting properties to Black people while at the same time acknowledging the elder McMichael used rude language to describe a Black tenant. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2022 Macron, who is expected to seek re-election later this year, made headlines earlier this week by using rude language in reference to the country’s minority of unvaccinated people. Samuel Petrequin, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin rudis; probably akin to Latin rudus rubble
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing rude
Kids Definition
rude
adjective
ˈrüd
ruder; rudest
1
: impolite
rude remarks
2
: not refined or cultured
3
: roughly made
a rude shelter
rude
adjective
1
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed a rude shelter built from unfinished logs by some forgotten pioneer Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- clumsy
- crude
- rough
- flawed
- imperfect
- artless
- primitive
- defective
- unrefined
- unfinished
- rudimentary
- unprofessional
- amateur
- rough-and-ready
- rough-and-tumble
- imprecise
- rough-hewn
- faulty
- inartistic
- unpolished
- jerry-built
- unskilled
- amateurish
- inexact
- jerry-rigged
- jury-rigged
- unskillful
- undressed
- inexpert
- unworked
- unshaped
- unshapen
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- perfect
- refined
- flawless
- polished
- faultless
- meticulous
- neat
- skillful
- adept
- sophisticated
- expert
- artistic
- artful
- finished
- practised
- perfected
- dextrous
- masterful
- dexterous
- adroit
- workmanlike
- masterly
- practiced
- precise
- well-done
- exact
2
as in primitive
belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development rude stone tools Synonyms & Similar Words
- primitive
- rudimentary
- crude
- simple
- low
- old
- obsolete
- ancient
- basic
- unsophisticated
- antiquated
- early
- homely
- uncomplicated
- antique
- primeval
- underdeveloped
- homespun
- backward
- dated
- primordial
- undeveloped
- past
- quaint
- fusty
- antediluvian
- outworn
- passé
- embryonic
- hoary
- unmodernized
- musty
- out-of-date
- aged
- old-fashioned
- oldfangled
- old-time
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- late
- high
- higher
- complicated
- evolved
- complex
- advanced
- sophisticated
- intricate
- developed
- mature
- involved
- civilized
- enlightened
- ripe
- grown
- modern
- matured
- new
- perfected
- refined
- cultivated
- ripened
- current
- contemporary
- modernistic
- latest
- newfangled
- ultramodern
- full-blown
- now
- novel
- mod
- supermodern
- new-fashioned
- up-to-date
- present-day
- space-age
- state-of-the-art
3
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste a comedian who uses a lot of rude language in his nightclub act Synonyms & Similar Words
- crass
- vulgar
- crude
- coarse
- common
- gross
- rough
- uncouth
- clumsy
- low
- uncultured
- rugged
- tasteless
- unpolished
- unrefined
- uncultivated
- ill-bred
- lowbrow
- boorish
- inconsiderate
- illiberal
- raffish
- insensible
- roughneck
- ungentlemanly
- churlish
- thoughtless
- insensitive
- incult
- loutish
- lowbred
- rustic
- indelicate
- clownish
- uncivilized
- unsophisticated
- rough-hewn
- cloddish
- oafish
- mannerless
- unmannerly
- lumpish
- lubberly
- tacky
- barbarous
- unmannered
- barbaric
- inelegant
- rustical
- graceless
- countrified
- provincial
- animallike
- countryfied
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- civilized
- smooth
- genteel
- tasteful
- cultured
- polished
- aristocratic
- gracious
- sensitive
- refined
- considerate
- cultivated
- graceful
- elegant
- restrained
- well-bred
- patrician
- thoughtful
- courtly
- ultrarefined
- sophisticated
- urbane
- citified
4
as in barbarian
not civilized missionaries who believed that it was their duty to convert the rude peoples of the world Synonyms & Similar Words
- barbarian
- savage
- wild
- uncivilized
- uncivil
- primitive
- barbarous
- barbaric
- heathen
- uncultivated
- heathenish
- natural
- crude
- uncouth
- rough
- Neanderthal
- coarse
- uncultured
- Neandertal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- civilized
- polite
- sophisticated
- enlightened
- humane
- cultured
- polished
- genteel
- refined
- urbane
- well-bred
- semicivilized
5
as in disrespectful
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others it's rude to call someone "ugly" Synonyms & Similar Words
- disrespectful
- impolite
- discourteous
- inconsiderate
- blunt
- ungracious
- arrogant
- thoughtless
- abrupt
- unmannerly
- uncivil
- gruff
- curt
- impertinent
- vulgar
- ill-mannered
- improper
- unmannered
- unhandsome
- incorrect
- bold
- ill-bred
- insolent
- uncalled-for
- impudent
- uncouth
- boorish
- brusque
- cheeky
- churlish
- brazen
- sassy
- brash
- saucy
- surly
- loutish
- shameless
- disagreeable
- sharp
- snippy
- brassy
- grumpy
- antisocial
- clownish
- audacious
- lippy
- sullen
- fresh
- indecent
- arch
- crusty
- unseemly
- haughty
- indecorous
- conceited
- cross
- presumptuous
- pretentious
- supercilious
- pompous
- bumptious
- caddish
- crabbed
- brusk
- imperious
- bold-faced
- superior
- peremptory
- snippety
- high-handed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- polite
- courteous
- gracious
- considerate
- civil
- thoughtful
- genteel
- humble
- respectful
- mannerly
- meek
- modest
- unassertive
- acceptable
- appropriate
- friendly
- deferential
- good
- correct
- suitable
- dutiful
- right
- proper
- submissive
- hospitable
- decent
- meet
- cordial
- respectable
- affable
- seemly
- fitting
- becoming
- decorous
- genial
- sociable
- well-bred
- befitting
- yielding
- graceful
- fit
- chivalrous
- felicitous
- gallant
- ceremonious
- courtly
- elegant
- refined
6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books rude hillbillies they might have been, but they produced music with real poignancy Synonyms & Similar Words
- ignorant
- uneducated
- dark
- illiterate
- inexperienced
- simple
- untutored
- benighted
- untaught
- unschooled
- naive
- stupid
- innocent
- unlearned
- uninstructed
- unknowledgeable
- nonliterate
- unlettered
- foolish
- uncultured
- unread
- analphabetic
- idiotic
- dumb
- unsophisticated
- artless
- semiliterate
- uncultivated
- silly
- lowbrow
- moronic
- functionally illiterate
- philistine
- unskilled
- imbecile
- callow
- untrained
- naïve
- green
- innumerate
- witless
- idiotical
- imbecilic
- brainless
- senseless
- raw
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- knowledgeable
- brilliant
- intelligent
- smart
- educated
- literate
- experienced
- erudite
- expert
- trained
- schooled
- lettered
- well-informed
- learned
- intellectual
- sophisticated
- highbrow
- cultured
- well-read
- aware
- scholarly
- familiar
- cultivated
- acquainted
- polymathic
- polyhistoric
- polymath
7
as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining rude pelts that were sent to Europe to be fashioned into elegant hats and coats Synonyms & Similar Words
- crude
- natural
- unrefined
- raw
- native
- undressed
- unprocessed
- untreated
- unpolished
- in the rough
- in the raw
- undeveloped
- unfinished
- impure
- unfiltered
- uncooked
- rough-hewn
- semifinished
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- treated
- dressed
- refined
- pure
- processed
- filtered
- purified
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of rude are crude, raw, and rough. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.
rude behavior
The words crude and rude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.
a crude joke
In some situations, the words raw and rude are roughly equivalent. However, raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.
turning raw youths into polished performers
The synonyms rough and rude are sometimes interchangeable, but rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.
rough manners
- intermediately
- intermediateness
- intermediatenesses
- intermediates
- intermediating
- intermediation
- intermediations
- intermediator
- intermediators
- intermediatory
- intermedii
- intermedin
- intermedins
- intermedio-
- intermediums
- intermell
- intermember
- intermembral
- intermembral index
- intermembrally
- intermembrane
- intermembranous ossification
- intermenstrual
- interment
- interments