rude

¹

[rood]

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

[ryd]

noun

1. François 1784–1855, French sculptor.

rude

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rude¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rude¹

C14: via Old French from Latin rudis coarse, unformed

Synonym Study

See boorish. See raw.

Example Sentences

Ukraine underwent a similar rude awakening to the nature of global power politics after it surrendered its Soviet-era nuclear weapons in the 1990s.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She glared at her husband and said, “Remember how you asked me to point out when you’re being stubborn and rude? Well, you’re being stubborn and rude!”

Read more on Literature

“Everyone who encountered him described him as being disagreeable, odd, rude, selfish,” Ross says, explaining the need for an actor who had the opposite qualities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Therein lies what might be “Anniversary’s” biggest warning: Don’t let the fox into the henhouse, even if it seems rude not to.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A U.S. ambassador to the region called him “rude” and “cocky” in a diplomatic cable later revealed by WikiLeaks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abusive 
• blunt 
• boorish 
• coarse 
• crude 
• ignorant 
• impolite 
• insulting 
• intrusive 
• obscene 
• surly 
• vulgar