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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 By far the biggest source of US oil imports is its northern neighbor, Canada, which sent 1.42 billion barrels of crude oil to America in 2023. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025 Trump’s order calls for higher production of crude oil, natural gas, uranium and coal — but did not mention renewable sources like wind and solar energy. Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 20 Feb. 2025 Line 5 is a 72-year-old pipeline that runs from Wisconsin to Canada and transports up to 540,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids a day, crossing Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 While crude oil was the largest import for Alabama in 2023, automobile and automobile parts followed right behind. Jennifer Lindahl, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
  • Read stories based on the data and explore the raw data yourself via the links and table below.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2025
  • My signature style is all about contrasts—mixing the refined with the raw, the structured with the undone.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes, 3 Mar. 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
  • However, these arrangements were not mere shakedowns; they were anchored in strategic diplomacy and geopolitical calculus, rather than vulgar profiteering.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Her Facebook and email had been flooded with vulgar, inflammatory responses.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • For climate advocates, Forrest citing his mining company’s financial performance might sound a bit crass coming from a billionaire who hops around the world on a private plane.
    Justin Worland, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Ak — who was previously accused of rape — was immediately faced with accusations of grooming, later admitting to his crass behavior.
    Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The character first appears in the franchise’s original film Scream (1996) as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Aviles’ dismissal, for a clumsy challenge on the edge of the penalty area, seemed set to turn the game.
    Martin Rogers, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Guys like Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele or Billy Horschel being natural heels and trolls is good, casual entertainment.
    Gabby Herzig, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Their bodies are thicker, a little more natural, than the slim models of today.
    Leah Asmelash, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • However, with even modern imaging technology, these rudimentary decoys are easily detected as fakes and hence less useful.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • It's currently billed as being capable of rudimentary tasks like loading cargo, and moving cases around warehouses.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), individuals may not block access to sidewalks or buildings, disrupt counterprotests, or engage in speech that is obscene, makes knowingly false statements of fact, or incites immediate violence or dangerous disturbances.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
  • There is absolutely nothing in libraries across the state that is obscene.
    Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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