raw 1 of 2

Definition of rawnext
1
as in uncooked
not cooked you should wash your hands after handling raw chicken

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining raw sugar is honey-colored because the crystals retain cane juices, minerals, and other impurities that haven't been refined out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
6
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin bundle up if you're going sailing, as there's a raw wind out there in the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

7
8

raw

2 of 2

noun

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective raw differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of raw are crude, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When might crude be a better fit than raw?

The words crude and raw can be used in similar contexts, but crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could rough be used to replace raw?

The meanings of rough and raw largely overlap; however, rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When is rude a more appropriate choice than raw?

The words rude and raw are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

How does the adjective raw differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of raw are crude, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When might crude be a better fit than raw?

The words crude and raw can be used in similar contexts, but crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could rough be used to replace raw?

The meanings of rough and raw largely overlap; however, rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When is rude a more appropriate choice than raw?

The words rude and raw are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

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 raw
Adjective
Meanwhile, 13 eateries received citations for health code violations including blackish mold-like growth in the facility, raw ducks improperly thawed and having a moth inside a container of rice. Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado april 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026 Relish Trays There is no savory snack as beloved as the relish plate, an assortment of raw and pickled vegetables typically served before a meal to perk up your appetite without filling you up. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
This, then, was Oasis in the raw, a throwback to their unstoppable ascent in much smaller venues than this rather than the enormo-dome gigs of their latter years. Mark Sutherland, Variety, 4 July 2025 Lina is played by the ghoulishly-great Betty Gilpin, who does in her craft what real-life Lina does in her soul—glitter in the raw. Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for raw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raw
Adjective
  • Once customers are seated and have ordered, a rolling robot blasting energetic tunes will turn the corner with their uncooked items.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
  • That meant Stop Sale Orders on sour cream (49 degrees); cabbage (51); sausage (53) and uncooked shell eggs (69 degrees).
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Rolder, an inexperienced but effective linebacker, could be an immediate impact player on special teams.
    Mike Kaye April 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Regulation remains uneven, education is inconsistent, and the line between a manageable high and a harmful one isn’t always clear, especially for younger or inexperienced users.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Smoothing turbulent waters and reminding both sides about their common bonds were what those trips were all about.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • News of the lawsuit comes at a turbulent time for the Department of Human Services.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • To the left is a relaxed deck for post-dip chilling; to the right is the beautifully restrained restaurant, partly enclosed in a glasshouse with an undulating canopy roof.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
  • They are measured in the reputational damage that will take years to remediate, and in the chilling effect on future endeavors intended to do good at scale.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The 2019 image of the peanut-chomping envoy quickly went viral, begetting a biting social-media hashtag: #LordCacahuates (Lord Peanuts).
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Eventually the boys split into two camps, paranoia runs rampant and deadly violence ensues.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Earthquakes, firebombing, and rampant development have left few examples of old architecture in Tokyo, but in 1993 the Tokyo government set aside about seventeen acres for this collection of historic buildings, which range from farmhouses and soy-sauce shops to private homes and public bathhouses.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
  • Slyly, the series reveals all the ways in which nudity is or isn’t sanctioned, bodily labor affirmed or condemned.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
  • One way to stop this proliferation of deep-fake nudity is to prosecute the offenders and make examples that such foolery has consequences.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raw. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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