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

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

Choose the Right Synonym for rude

rude, rough, crude, raw mean lacking in social refinement.

rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

Examples of rude in a Sentence

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

Anti-Tesla sentiment is at an all-time high, whether expressed through rude bumper stickers and peaceful protest or vandalism and arson, in part because Musk has continually stoked tension with his far-right politics. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025

At the time, Pearce called out a rude fan while performing at WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025

He’s easily distracted by sounds or activity, often needs questions repeated and uses abrupt matter-of-fact phrases that could be considered rude, the filings said. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2025

Yet when the only three likable characters here manage to survive that onslaught, there’s a sweetness to the fadeout that reveals surprising charm beneath the film’s vigorously rude surface. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025

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

• in for a rude shock
• in rude health
• rude awakening
• rude shock

Rhymes for rude

• blued
• booed
• brewed
• brood
• chewed
• cooed
• crude
• cued
• dude
• feud
• food
• glued

Kids Definition

rude

adjective

ˈrüd 

ruder; rudest

1

: impolite

2

: not refined or cultured

3

: being sudden and forceful

a rude awakening

4

: being in a rough or unfinished state : roughly made

rudely adverb

rudeness noun