lewd

[lood]

adjective

lewder, lewdest 

1. inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust or lechery; lascivious.

2. obscene or indecent, as language or songs; salacious.

3. Obsolete.

   1. low, ignorant, or vulgar.

   2. base, vile, or wicked, especially of a person.

   3. bad, worthless, or poor, especially of a thing.

lewd

/ luːd /

adjective

1. characterized by or intended to excite crude sexual desire; obscene

2. obsolete

   1. wicked

   2. ignorant

Other Word Forms

• lewdly adverb
• lewdness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewd¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English leud, lewed, Old English lǣwede “lay, unlearned”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewd¹

C14: from Old English lǣwde lay, ignorant; see _lay ³

Example Sentences

He also pleaded not guilty to two counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 filed against him in March 2024, according to court records.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

John Kaleel left the U.S. earlier this month shortly before a Los Angeles jury convicted him on multiple counts of committing lewd acts with a student.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was booked at Ventura County Jail on suspicion of five felony counts of lewd acts on a minor aged 14.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another of the four applicants, who joined the navy, said she was subject to lewd comments throughout her training and unwanted touching.

Read more on BBC

Neo-Sexpressionism: Representational art that isn’t overtly lewd but knows what it’s doing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bawdy 
• coarse 
• erotic 
• lascivious 
• naughty 
• obscene 
• off-color 
• pornographic 
• racy 
• ribald 
• salacious 
• suggestive 
• vile