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

“It would be rude for us not to say thank you to those students in some way, and acknowledge the commitment they’ve made to us,” says Kerr Ramsay III, senior vice president for enrollment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said that Colombia “has never been rude with the U.S.” and called the American leader “ignorant with Colombia.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I actually asked an especially rude kid to step outside.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Also, keep in mind that if your travel plans include national parks or other federally operated sites, you might be in for a rude awakening.

Read more on MarketWatch

Now he’s posting a social media message to the European team apologizing for the “rude and mean-spirited behavior” at the Cup.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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