raw 1 of 2

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as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining raw sugar is honey-colored because the crystals retain cane juices, minerals, and other impurities that haven't been refined out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin bundle up if you're going sailing, as there's a raw wind out there in the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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raw

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noun

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective raw differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of raw are crude, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When might crude be a better fit than raw?

The words crude and raw can be used in similar contexts, but crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could rough be used to replace raw?

The meanings of rough and raw largely overlap; however, rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When is rude a more appropriate choice than raw?

The words rude and raw are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 raw
Adjective
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on May 22 that certain frozen, raw and half-shell oysters from South Korea could be infected with norovirus. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 May 2025 The youngest cast member at the time, Williams set the tone for the raw emotion the show was not afraid to show over the years. Jen Juneau, People.com, 24 May 2025
Noun
Several open pans of raw shelled eggs stored directly above ready-to-eat leafy greens in cooler. Ebony Day, azcentral, 15 Jan. 2020 Employee cracked a raw shelled egg with gloved hands then handled a clean plate and kitchen utensils without washing hands between tasks. Ebony Day, azcentral, 25 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for raw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raw
Adjective
  • Unlike previous trials, the team this time allowed the uncooked rings to freeze overnight.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Don’t love the uncooked taste of an egg cooked only on one side?
    Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump’s turbulent tariff policy is projected to cause a sharper slowdown in economic growth in the United States and around the world than previously expected, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) found in a Tuesday report.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 3 June 2025
  • This turbulent phase will pass, leading to more peaceful times ahead.
    Essence, Essence, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Any chilling effect would also come with international tourism expected to be dented this year, costing $12.5 billion in spending, due to negative perceptions of trade and immigration policy.
    Jenni Reid, CNBC, 1 June 2025
  • Lampton and others said that revoking Chinese student visas will have a chilling effect on academia and could turn off the brightest minds from other countries as well.
    Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • But when Afrikaners began to take a serious interest in Mr. Trump’s refugee program, the biting remarks were unleashed.
    Zimasa Matiwane, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Katy Perry is continuing to catch strays, this time from the most biting demographic of all: the pop girlie fandom.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • This is in large part due to rampant theft of familiar old-school icons; items like My Computer, Calculator, Minesweeper, Search, and more look like they were taken directly from a classic Microsoft tile set.
    John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025
  • And the arena’s management did it by embracing the existing immigrant population in an era where rampant gentrification seeks to stifle New York’s quintessential diversity.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • There’s no exact count of how many people fit inside Sahara, but to the naked eye, there appears to be roughly 20,000 people here to see him, with the crowd spilling out of the tent and extending up the adjacent hillside viewing area.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 28 May 2025
  • As always, readers are encouraged to never look directly at the sun with the naked eye, standard sunglasses, or with binoculars/a telescope, as doing so can permanently damage your vision.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sip rare rums at Dunn’s Rum Club in Jamaica Courtesy of Sandals Resorts Every trip deserves a good toast, and at Sandals Dunn’s River, the Rum Club knows precisely how to pour it.
    Sandals Resorts, AFAR Media, 2 June 2025
  • Season 7 provided a rare opportunity to keep this world for the fans while introducing new characters alongside some beloved favorites.
    Selome Hailu, Variety, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raw. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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