nude 1 of 3

Definition of nudenext

nude

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body the artist painted some models in the nude

Synonyms & Similar Words

nudity

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in nude
the state of having no clothes on one's body actors who don't turn down roles that call for nudity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective nude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nude are bald, bare, barren, and naked. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

In what contexts can bald take the place of nude?

While in some cases nearly identical to nude, bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is bare a more appropriate choice than nude?

While the synonyms bare and nude are close in meaning, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When can barren be used instead of nude?

The meanings of barren and nude largely overlap; however, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When would naked be a good substitute for nude?

The synonyms naked and nude are sometimes interchangeable, but naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

How does the adjective nude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nude are bald, bare, barren, and naked. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

In what contexts can bald take the place of nude?

While in some cases nearly identical to nude, bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is bare a more appropriate choice than nude?

While the synonyms bare and nude are close in meaning, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When can barren be used instead of nude?

The meanings of barren and nude largely overlap; however, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When would naked be a good substitute for nude?

The synonyms naked and nude are sometimes interchangeable, but naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nude
Adjective
Pair it with gold jewelry to complete the color scheme, then add a pair of nude heels for a classic look. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026 As someone who gravitates toward darker nail colors—probably dating back to my ’90s obsession with Chanel’s iconic Vamp—I’ve popped in and out of nail salons for decades without giving the best nude nail polishes their due consideration. Iman Balagam, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
The resulting triptych was exhibited in the backroom of the Marcuse Pfeifer Gallery for a 1978 group show focused on the male nude in photography. Andrew Durbin, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026 Marilyn’s nude, however, was a horse of a different color. Joshua John Miller, Vanity Fair, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
But Cassie’s latest foray into a career as an OnlyFans model has resulted in some of the most explicit nudity so far in the show. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 20 Apr. 2026 Let’s circle back to the nudity in the series. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nude
naked
Adjective
  • Blessed with wide fields of view, binoculars reveal the night sky beyond the reach of the naked eye, able to give excellent views of large and bright deep-sky objects — including star clusters and nebulas and the occasional galaxy (as well as the star-fields in the arc of the Milky Way).
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Talley then fled naked from the hospital and soon was recaptured.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Nude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nude. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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