Crude — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Crude (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining

   "a sizable spill of crude oil along a coastline is the worst kind of environmental disaster"

   similar: native, natural, raw, rude, undressed, unprocessed, unrefined, untreated, in the raw, in the rough
   related: undeveloped, rough-hewn, semifinished, unfinished, unpolished, uncooked, impure, unfiltered
   opposite: dressed, processed, refined, treated
   near: filtered, pure, purified

2. belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development

   "the crude stone tools that those prehistoric peoples used"

   similar: low, primitive, rude, rudimentary
   related: basic, simple, uncomplicated, homely, homespun, unsophisticated, early, embryonic, primeval, primordial, backward, underdeveloped, undeveloped, aged, ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past, quaint, unmodernized
   opposite: advanced, developed, evolved, high, higher, late
   near: complex, complicated, intricate, involved, sophisticated, full-blown, grown, mature, matured, perfected, ripe, ripened, civilized, cultivated, enlightened, refined, contemporary, current, latest, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, novel, now, present-day, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date

3. depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society

   "crude jokes can be considered sexual harassment"

   similar: bawdy, blue, coarse, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, gutter, impure, indecent, lascivious, lewd, locker-room, nasty, obscene, pornographic, porny, profane, raunchy, ribald, smutty, stag, trashy, unprintable, vulgar, wanton, X-rated
   related: broad, coarse-grained, gamy, off, off-color, racy, risqué, salacious, salty, suggestive, barnyard, earthy, scatological, immodest, indecorous, indelicate, low, unbecoming, depraved, kinky, louche, naughty, perverse, perverted, wicked, exceptionable, objectionable, unacceptable, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, abhorrent, debasing, disgusting, loathsome, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, distasteful, obnoxious, unpleasant, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible, atrocious, infamous, abusive, scurrilous, hard-core, soft, soft-core
   opposite: clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene, wholesome
   near: priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced, Victorian, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly, innocuous, inoffensive, acceptable, agreeable, desirable, pleasant, pleasing, welcome, appropriate, becoming, fit, meet, suitable, immaculate, perfect, pure, spotless, virginal, approved, endorsed, sanctioned

4. lacking in refinement or good taste

   "any discussion of one's money is considered crude by the club's blue-blooded members"

   similar: coarse, common, crass, gross, ill-bred, illiberal (archaic), incult, insensible, low, lowbred, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, roughneck, rude, rugged, tasteless, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar
   related: boorish, churlish, cloddish, clownish, loutish, ungentlemanly, clumsy, lubberly, lumpish, oafish, inconsiderate, indelicate, insensitive, thoughtless, countrified, provincial, rustic, unsophisticated, graceless, inelegant, tacky, animallike, barbaric, barbarous, uncivilized, mannerless, unmannered, unmannerly
   opposite: civilized, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polished, refined, smooth, tasteful, ultrarefined, well-bred
   near: aristocratic, courtly, patrician, elegant, graceful, restrained, considerate, gracious, sensitive, thoughtful, citified, sophisticated, urbane

5. hastily or roughly constructed

   "a crude hut that was constructed by some shipwrecked sailors"

   similar: artless, clumsy, jerry-built, jerry-rigged, jury-rigged, rough, rough-and-ready, rough-and-tumble, rough-hewn, rude, unrefined
   related: defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, imprecise, inexact, inartistic, undressed, unfinished, unpolished, unworked, amateur, amateurish, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, primitive, rudimentary, unshaped, unshapen
   opposite: refined
   near: faultless, finished, flawless, meticulous, perfect, perfected, polished, well-done, adept, adroit, dexterous, expert, masterful, masterly, neat, practiced, skillful, workmanlike, artful, artistic, sophisticated, exact, precise