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as in raw
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining a sizable spill of crude oil along a coastline is the worst kind of environmental disaster

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective crude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crude are raw, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could raw be used to replace crude?

In some situations, the words raw and crude are roughly equivalent. However, raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When would rough be a good substitute for crude?

The words rough and crude can be used in similar contexts, but rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When might rude be a better fit than crude?

The synonyms rude and crude are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 crude In 2019, two companies announced plans to run a crude oil conduit, known as the Byhalia Pipeline, through the community, which activists saw as a threat to drinking water, though the companies denied it. Stephanie Gosk, NBC news, 15 May 2025 In energy trading, U.S. benchmark crude oil added 64 cents to $62.59 per barrel. Matt Ott, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025 The positive development has sent oil prices higher as well, with crude oil up over 3.5% in premarket trading. Jj Kinahan, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 The value of the dollar climbed against other major currencies, while crude oil prices jumped more than 3% during midday trading. Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for crude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
  • LuPone felt at home with Mamet’s dialogue; its raw aggression gave language to her own.
    Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • Offerings include raw preparations that highlight the freshness of their seafood, like the shrimp ceviche served with Zapps, and cooked items like the po’boys made with fish fried straight out of the case.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.
    Joseph J. Kolb, Fox News, 18 July 2017
  • Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.
    OregonLive.com, OregonLive.com, 12 July 2017
Adjective
  • In that sense, the vulgar Vader situation creates a touchy dilemma for Epic Games and Disney, which likely invested substantially in this high-profile collaboration.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
  • Amid the attention, the new pontiff's eldest brother has drawn scrutiny for social media posts praising Trump and using inflammatory, vulgar rhetoric toward Democrats and transgender people.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Related Articles Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
  • Grand Theft Auto is famous for its crass, satirical sense of humor.
    Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • These transitions, between past and present, are sometimes clumsy but sometimes genuinely sweet, as with an old letter that near-simultaneously is dictated and written, received and read, and finally rediscovered (and only partially understood) in the 21st century.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 May 2025
  • Wildlife officials helped remove a black bear found hanging out in the kitchen of a Kentucky home after an impressive, yet clumsy break-in, photos show.
    Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • Thus, the founder set about building a line of functional, luxurious yet functional, holistic, and natural pet lifestyle products.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The cooler temperatures and raindrops can act as natural coolants, helping dissipate heat from your body.
    Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • And no, this doesn't mean turning the office into a place full of rudimentary and shallow perks.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • His projections were rudimentary by today’s standards, but at the time were ahead of the curve.
    David Hill, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • After the man told the boy to get out of the road, the juvenile responded with cursing and an obscene gesture, the report said.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
  • Stop into any local bakery and ask for their specialty, many of which contain obscene amounts of egg yolks.
    Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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