Rude

¹

[ryd]

noun

1. François 1784–1855, French sculptor.

rude

²

[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

/ 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

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

A councillor breached Leicester City Council's code of conduct by being rude and aggressive to officers during a briefing on a housing scheme, a standards committee has ruled.

Read more on BBC

Instead of politics, Sheridan’s heroes testify about the rude realities of the world and basic ways of living that need protection.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"I cannot believe that I'm standing here for no good reason, so I don't want to be rude, but you're idiots," he went on.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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