Word: crude

Associations

"Crude" means something that is rough, raw, or not refined. It can describe various things such as materials, manners, or behaviors.

• Example 1: "The crude oil was sent to the refinery." This example shows that crude oil is unprocessed and must be refined.
• Example 2: "He made a crude joke that offended many people." Here, "crude" describes a joke that is inappropriate or lacking in sophistication.
• Example 3: "The table was made of crude wood with no polish." This indicates that the wood is in its natural, unfinished state.

The synonym "raw" is similar but often describes food that is unprocessed or uncooked, while "crude" can refer to many things beyond just food, such as language or behavior.

Substitution

You might use "rough," "unrefined," or "basic" in place of "crude," but each word carries a slightly different meaning:

• "Rough" suggests something lacking smoothness or precision (e.g., "rough terrain").
• "Unrefined" specifically refers to something that hasn’t been made more pure or improved (e.g., "unrefined sugar").
• "Basic" can imply simplicity or a lack of complexity, which may not always align with the negative connotation of "crude."