CRUDE Synonyms: 327 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

crude

adjective

ˈkrüd

Definition of crude next

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in primitive

belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development the crude stone tools that those prehistoric peoples used

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as in vulgar

depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society crude jokes can be considered sexual harassment

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as in crass

lacking in refinement or good taste any discussion of one's money is considered crude by the club's blue-blooded members

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as in clumsy

hastily or roughly constructed a crude hut that was constructed by some shipwrecked sailors

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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

Examples 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 But the price of crude oil dipped on concerns that those policies would greatly increase supplies. —

Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025 Potentially complicating those efforts would be Trump’s threat to enact tariffs of as much as $25/bbl on the import of Canadian crude oil. —

Christopher Helman, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 Biden had sold a record amount of crude oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve at more than 180 million barrels. —

Timothy Gardner, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025 Last week, the EIA forecast additional growth for U.S. crude oil production this year in its most recent short-term energy outlook. —

Kelly Livingston, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for crude

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude

Adjective

Walls of raw concrete and earthen hues pay homage to ancient adobe structures, while courtyards and open-air walkways nod to haciendas of old.

— Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Sanusi, a skilful wide player who has been compared stylistically to Allan Saint-Maximin, is still young and raw and he will instead be challenged to earn greater training time with the senior squad.

— Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025