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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 In other dealings on Tuesday, benchmark U.S. crude oil lost 29 cents to $67.64 per barrel. Teresa Cerojano, Fortune, 8 July 2025 The nearly 900-mile pipeline will transport crude oil from Uganda's Lake Albert region to Tanzania's port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean. Willem Marx, NPR, 7 July 2025 That’s because California’s pump prices are primarily set by the global crude oil market, which is volatile, Brown said. Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025 In our bubble, that slur was only uttered by crude uncles. Charles E. Kraus, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for crude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
  • DeCicco suggested getting additional kiwi in your diet by adding it to Greek yogurt with cinnamon, raw nuts and berries; giving a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers and avocado some sweetness; eating it on the side of eggs; and blending it into a protein smoothie.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
  • The mission: Mix fruits and veggies from the morning’s haul and make a no-rules raw salad—and have fun.
    Karen Yuan, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 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 comics were often dismissed as a vulgar form, but the bad joke of our superhero-movie culture is that most of it is a vulgarization of the comics.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 July 2025
  • Nan’s rebellion was never loud or vulgar but always quietly confident and effortlessly elegant.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Brandi Glanville & Lisa Vanderpump (RHOBH) Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo: Kelsey McNeal/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Lisa and Brandi were an odd fit from the start: Brandi, the crass newbie; Lisa Vanderpump, the grande dame of Beverly Hills.
    Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 11 June 2025
  • Most Popular Most Popular Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen’s crisis Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen's crisis Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • And Hank’s own clumsy attempts at hypermasculine child-rearing often come from his father, Cotton (Toby Huss).
    Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 7 July 2025
  • Gone are are the days of clumsy imagery and texts and fake sign-in pages that can be detected in an instant.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • This powder foundation from Laura Geller has a demi-matte finish that leaves your skin with a smooth, balanced, and natural look for everyday wear.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 July 2025
  • That has proven to be one of the most effective ways to protect natural spaces and regulate the use of resources.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • What began as rudimentary chatbots programmed to respond to queries based on keywords eventually evolved into GenAI.
    Vivek Ahuja, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • From behind the fence, at the white hut, a rudimentary but powerful loudhailer and speaker system is set up, from which a commentator fills every second of dead air with excitable exhortations to Allah combined with knowledgeable play-by-play analysis in machine-gun fast Arabic.
    Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.
    Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 3 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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