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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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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 Eight major refineries account for about 96% of crude oil capacity in the state — and that includes the Valero refinery in Benicia and the Phillips 66 facilities in Carson and Wilmington. Rob Nikolewski, Mercury News, 27 May 2025 Currently, the beaches of Torrey Pines are crowded with photographers hoping for that perfect picture of peregrine falcon chicks being raised in crude scrape nests placed on precarious perches, high on the sandstone cliffs. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025 Such a fund holds derivatives tied to the prices of a basket of physical assets—crude oil, natural gas, precious metals, base metals, grains, livestock. William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025 Subscribe The core inflation is expected to ease in the coming months due to lower crude oil prices and the yen’s appreciation, said Masato Koike, economist at Sompo Institute Plus. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for crude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
  • Research has linked eating 80 to 100 grams of these greens (two to three cups raw or half a cup cooked) daily with a 25% lower risk of overall mortality and a slower rate of cognitive decline with age.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 6 June 2025
  • The company imports raw ingredients, packaging materials and some finished products into the U.S. from China.
    Aishwarya Venugopal, USA Today, 6 June 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
  • The survey examined a minimum of 1,000 comments per team and found less than 1% of posts made by fans of the Dallas Wings contained swear words or vulgar comments.
    Alyssa Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025
  • The program was incredibly close-knit—kids practiced most days of the week, and hung out almost exclusively with their fellow All-Stars, as well as with the vulgar, charismatic teacher who structured their lives.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • But beyond the crass remarks about Read, experts say less explosive messages about Proctor's early opinions of the investigation could be damning.
    Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025
  • What keeps these series from coming off as crass is the genuine camaraderie that connects their characters and shelters them, to some extent, from the precariousness of their lives.
    Judy Berman, Time, 22 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
  • Biologic dressings help to temporarily cover wounds and support the natural healing process, essentially aiding in either the wound healing on its own or preparing it for a surgical treatment to close it.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
  • Her runway debut made a powerful case for natural beauty, nostalgic glamour, and Black women as the blueprint.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Although contemporary smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant can manage rudimentary household commands—like turning on lights or checking the weather—agentic AI signifies a profound shift.
    Sandeep Shivam, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • These pioneers used rudimentary plows, but when steel plows became available farmers were able to plant and harvest much more food per acre to feed a growing population.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Venis’s obscene wealth justifies an unbridled narcissism that reflects our worst fears of tech moguls.
    Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 28 May 2025
  • In December 2014, a jury convicted Magnotta of first-degree murder, committing an indignity to a human body, publishing obscene material and mailing obscene and indecent material.
    Jessica Sager, People.com, 25 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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