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Definitions

rude

[rood] / rud /




Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for rude?
Many synonyms of rude suggest a violation of manners or propriety, including impolite, bad-mannered, ill-mannered, mannerless, unmannerly, and discourteous. A word that suggests that a person doesn’t know how to interact with others—or doesn’t care how they do—is tactless. Words that suggest a more active, deliberate rudeness are disrespectful, insolent, and impertinent. People who are overly blunt or aggressive might be described as brash, brusque, crude, or boorish. The word uncivil implies that someone is behaving in a way that ignores common courtesy. A generally rude person might be called a jerk (or worse names). Rude can also describe something that is crudely made. The word crude can also be used as a synonym of this sense.
What is a more polite word for rude?
A more polite word for rude is, fittingly, impolite. Rude typically has an accusatory and judgmental tone. Along with impolite, synonyms that avoid this are impertinent, uncouth, and discourteous.
How is rude different from mean?
Someone who’s called rude might also be considered meanmalicious toward others. When you behave rudely, you treat others poorly in some way, and that can be seen as mean. But meanness doesn’t necessarily always involve rudeness. There are plenty of ways to be mean outside of violating manners and etiquette, which is what rude usually implies. A person can even be mean while appearing to be polite.
What is another word for a rude awakening?
The phrase rude awakening refers to an instance of being suddenly—rudely—forced to face an unpleasant fact. A similar term is eye-opener.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

His name is destined to become a rude punchline or be completely forgotten.

From Salon Aug. 7, 2026

Chef’s chosen method for waking Tony in the morning is rude, funny and effective.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 6, 2026

This made him angry and he called her rude and lazy, he said.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 21, 2026

"The kids are really amazing too. They're really respectful, they're not rude at all and they're very, very polite. Credit to the parents."

From BBC Jul. 12, 2026

“The boy was trying to wake you up,” the old man said before Jack could say something rude in response.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

The actual phrasing he used was far ruder than that – but you get the drift.

From BBC Jul. 18, 2026

Sherril Graham said she thought the national norms were making people ruder and more radicalized.

From Slate Oct. 22, 2025

Two in 10 said today’s behavior is a lot ruder.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 30, 2025

Nothing is ruder than a guest who is constantly checking emails or making private phone calls.

From Seattle Times Oct. 25, 2023

From the loft, she could hear him downstairs, ruder and louder than ever.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

It’s that they’ve done it by transforming into the rudest, most hard-hitting, trash-talking team in professional basketball.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 4, 2026

It was a rude speech, maybe the rudest by a national leader in Davos history.

From Slate Jan. 21, 2026

If there was hope, and belief, that this type of performance was maybe behind them, then this was the rudest of rude awakenings.

From BBC Mar. 23, 2025

The rudest, most disrespectful tweets garner eight times as many likes and ten times as many retweets as civil ones.

From Salon Aug. 18, 2022

That was altogether too much from a lad younger than herself, and Meg walked away, saying petulantly, “You are the rudest boy I ever saw.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott




Vocabulary lists containing rude


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