Synonyms of rude

rude

adjective

ˈrüd 

1

as in clumsy

hastily or roughly constructed

a rude shelter built from unfinished logs by some forgotten pioneer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clumsy
• crude
• rough
• flawed
• imperfect
• primitive
• artless
• defective
• unrefined
• unfinished
• rudimentary
• rough-and-ready
• rough-and-tumble
• amateur
• unprofessional
• rough-hewn
• faulty
• jerry-built
• imprecise
• inartistic
• unpolished
• jerry-rigged
• unskilled
• jury-rigged
• inexact
• amateurish
• unskillful
• undressed
• inexpert
• unworked
• unshaped
• unshapen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• perfect
• refined
• polished
• meticulous
• flawless
• neat
• skillful
• well-done
• faultless
• finished
• expert
• adept
• sophisticated
• artistic
• practised
• masterful
• adroit
• artful
• masterly
• practiced
• precise
• perfected
• exact
• dexterous
• workmanlike
• dextrous

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
• ancient
• obsolete
• basic
• early
• antiquated
• unsophisticated
• homely
• uncomplicated
• antique
• primeval
• underdeveloped
• primordial
• undeveloped
• past
• backward
• out-of-date
• old-fashioned
• quaint
• embryonic
• dated
• antediluvian
• outworn
• homespun
• hoary
• old-time
• aged
• musty
• fusty
• unmodernized
• passé
• oldfangled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• late
• higher
• high
• evolved
• advanced
• complex
• complicated
• sophisticated
• developed
• intricate
• involved
• mature
• ripe
• civilized
• grown
• enlightened
• matured
• modern
• new
• perfected
• ripened
• refined
• current
• cultivated
• contemporary
• latest
• full-blown
• modernistic
• newfangled
• now
• present-day
• novel
• up-to-date
• mod
• state-of-the-art
• ultramodern
• supermodern
• new-fashioned
• space-age

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
• coarse
• crude
• common
• gross
• rough
• uncouth
• clumsy
• low
• rugged
• uncultured
• unpolished
• tasteless
• uncultivated
• unrefined
• lowbrow
• raffish
• ill-bred
• insensible
• illiberal
• rough-hewn
• boorish
• inconsiderate
• ungentlemanly
• churlish
• rustic
• thoughtless
• insensitive
• loutish
• lowbred
• incult
• roughneck
• rustical
• clownish
• indelicate
• unsophisticated
• cloddish
• uncivilized
• oafish
• lumpish
• lubberly
• tacky
• unmannerly
• barbarous
• barbaric
• inelegant
• provincial
• unmannered
• countrified
• graceless
• mannerless
• countryfied
• animallike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smooth
• civilized
• genteel
• cultured
• polished
• tasteful
• refined
• aristocratic
• cultivated
• elegant
• graceful
• sensitive
• patrician
• well-bred
• courtly
• restrained
• gracious
• considerate
• thoughtful
• 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
• primitive
• uncivilized
• barbarous
• barbaric
• uncivil
• uncultivated
• natural
• Neanderthal
• heathenish
• heathen
• crude
• rough
• coarse
• uncouth
• Neandertal
• uncultured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• civilized
• sophisticated
• polite
• enlightened
• humane
• cultured
• polished
• genteel
• refined
• well-bred
• urbane
• 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
• discourteous
• impolite
• blunt
• inconsiderate
• abrupt
• thoughtless
• ungracious
• arrogant
• gruff
• unmannerly
• uncivil
• curt
• impertinent
• improper
• uncalled-for
• vulgar
• ill-mannered
• incorrect
• bold
• unmannered
• ill-bred
• unhandsome
• insolent
• impudent
• uncouth
• boorish
• brazen
• cheeky
• brusque
• churlish
• sassy
• brash
• shameless
• saucy
• sharp
• loutish
• disagreeable
• surly
• brassy
• antisocial
• audacious
• fresh
• clownish
• grumpy
• snippy
• sullen
• crusty
• indecent
• unseemly
• cross
• haughty
• arch
• indecorous
• pretentious
• presumptuous
• conceited
• supercilious
• pompous
• bold-faced
• crabbed
• bumptious
• caddish
• lippy
• brusk
• superior
• imperious
• peremptory
• high-handed
• snippety

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• polite
• courteous
• civil
• gracious
• considerate
• thoughtful
• humble
• genteel
• modest
• respectful
• appropriate
• acceptable
• meek
• good
• correct
• friendly
• suitable
• proper
• right
• meet
• deferential
• decent
• submissive
• dutiful
• becoming
• fitting
• respectable
• cordial
• hospitable
• mannerly
• fit
• yielding
• genial
• well-bred
• affable
• graceful
• sociable
• unassertive
• chivalrous
• decorous
• felicitous
• gallant
• seemly
• befitting
• elegant
• courtly
• refined
• ceremonious

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
• dark
• uneducated
• inexperienced
• simple
• illiterate
• untutored
• benighted
• untaught
• unschooled
• unlearned
• innocent
• uninstructed
• unlettered
• nonliterate
• naive
• unread
• stupid
• foolish
• analphabetic
• unknowledgeable
• uncultured
• naïve
• idiotic
• unsophisticated
• artless
• dumb
• semiliterate
• functionally illiterate
• uncultivated
• lowbrow
• unskilled
• moronic
• silly
• green
• callow
• imbecile
• imbecilic
• untrained
• innumerate
• witless
• idiotical
• philistine
• brainless
• senseless
• raw

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• knowledgeable
• brilliant
• intelligent
• educated
• literate
• smart
• experienced
• expert
• trained
• lettered
• erudite
• well-informed
• learned
• intellectual
• scholarly
• well-read
• schooled
• cultured
• sophisticated
• aware
• familiar
• cultivated
• acquainted
• highbrow
• 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
• in the rough
• untreated
• unprocessed
• undressed
• in the raw
• unpolished
• undeveloped
• unfinished
• impure
• unfiltered
• uncooked
• rough-hewn
• semifinished

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• treated
• dressed
• refined
• pure
• processed
• filtered
• purified

Try This Instead

For

Try This

rude people

impolite people

bad-mannered people

disrespectful people

nasty people

unkind people

a rude gesture

an impolite gesture

an offensive gesture

a vulgar gesture

a nasty gesture

a gross gesture

rude behavior

impolite behavior

disrespectful behavior

nasty behavior

unpleasant behavior

poor behavior

rude treatment

inconsiderate treatment

disrespectful treatment

ungracious treatment

discourteous treatment

impolite treatment

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rude differ from other similar words?

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

Where would crude be a reasonable alternative to rude?

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

When would raw be a good substitute for rude?

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

When is rough a more appropriate choice than rude?

The synonyms rough and rude are sometimes interchangeable, but rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rude

Proctor sent a series of rude, lewd and unprofessional text messages about Read and the investigation, which led to his firing. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025

There was also a three-homer game for Pablo Sandoval in the 2012 World Series, but it’s considered rude to talk about that in 2025. —Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 17 May 2025

Related Articles Miss Manners: The way my wife stabs meat at the table has bothered me for 50 years Miss Manners: Is my husband right that my phone alarm is rude? —Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2025

Related Articles Miss Manners: The maid of honor’s wedding-day surprise was not a pleasant one Miss Manners: Is my husband right that my phone alarm is rude? —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 15 May 2025