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Synonyms

rude

1 American  
[rood] / rud /

adjective

ruder, rudest
  1. discourteous or impolite, especially in a deliberate way.

    a rude reply.

    Synonyms:
    fresh, pert, saucy, impudent, impertinent, brusque, curt, unmannerly, uncivil
  2. without culture, learning, or refinement.

    rude, illiterate peasants.

    Synonyms:
    rough, vulgar, coarse, uncouth, uncivilized, uncultured, unrefined
  3. rough in manners or behavior; unmannerly; uncouth.

  4. rough, harsh, or ungentle.

    rude hands.

  5. roughly wrought, built, or formed; of a crude construction or kind.

    a rude cottage.

  6. not properly or fully developed; raw; unevolved.

    a rude first stage of development.

  7. harsh to the ear.

    rude sounds.

  8. without artistic elegance; of a primitive simplicity.

    a rude design.

    Synonyms:
    artless, rustic
  9. violent or tempestuous, as the waves.

    Synonyms:
    stormy, turbulent, tumultuous, fierce
  10. robust, sturdy, or vigorous.

    rude strength.

  11. approximate or tentative.

    a rude first calculation of costs.


Rude 2 American  
[ryd] / rüd /

noun

  1. François 1784–1855, French sculptor.


rude British  
/ ruːd /

adjective

  1. insulting or uncivil; discourteous; impolite

    he was rude about her hairstyle

  2. lacking refinement; coarse or uncouth

  3. vulgar or obscene

    a rude joke

  4. unexpected and unpleasant

    a rude awakening to the facts of economic life

  5. roughly or crudely made

    we made a rude shelter on the island

  6. rough or harsh in sound, appearance, or behaviour

  7. humble or lowly

  8. (prenominal) robust or sturdy

    in rude health

  9. (prenominal) approximate or imprecise

    a rude estimate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See boorish. See raw.

Other Word Forms

  • overrude adjective
  • overrudely adverb
  • overrudeness noun
  • rudely adverb
  • rudeness noun
  • unrude adjective
  • unrudely adverb

Etymology

Origin of rude

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English rude, ruide, from Old French, from Latin rudis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, my boss’s feedback is always rude and discouraging.

From MarketWatch

Maggie Fox was used to managing difficult men of the middle and upper classes, whether drunk, rude, or simply full of themselves.

From Literature

This, I think, undermines the rude energy of Ms. Honek’s writing, and the stories often seem divided between rage and indifference.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ten years on, there can be no doubt the governing body is in rude health.

From BBC

It was quite a moment when a minister of the crown called the King's brother "rude, arrogant and entitled" at the despatch box of the House of Commons.

From BBC