rudeness

/ˈruːdnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruːdnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrüd-nəs/ (ame, mw)

rudeness — noun

1. words or actions that show you do not care about other people's feelings, often

1.名詞B1
釋義

words or actions that show you do not care about other people's feelings, often making them feel insulted, hurt, or annoyed.

例句

The customer complained about the waiter's rudeness when he refused to answer any questions.

rudeness + about; complain about rudeness

Tariro was shocked by the sheer rudeness of her classmate's comment about her accent.

collocation: sheer rudeness

同義詞
  • impoliteness

    softer, less emotional; focuses on lack of good manners rather than active offensiveness

  • discourtesy

    formal register; common in official complaints or written reports

  • disrespect

    stronger connotation of deliberate contempt; suggests a power imbalance

  • insolence

    implies open, defiant disrespect, especially from a subordinate toward an authority figure

反義詞
  • politeness

    the direct opposite; behaviour that shows consideration for others

  • courtesy

    formal and positive; often implies going beyond basic politeness

  • respect

    broader in meaning; includes admiration as well as polite behaviour

文法句型

rude + noun

rudeness of + noun phrase

possessive + rudeness

用法筆記

Frequently used with possessive adjectives (his rudeness, her rudeness). The phrase 'excuse my rudeness' is a fixed polite formula used when interrupting or correcting someone.

常見錯誤

❌He made a rudeness when he interrupted the speaker.
✅He was rude when he interrupted the speaker.
💡rudeness is uncountable and cannot be used with 'a'.
❌I was surprised by the rudeness of the food.
✅I was surprised by the poor quality of the food.
💡rudeness refers to behavior, not objects.
❌She treated us with rudeness.
✅She treated us rudely.
💡the adverb form is more natural after verbs like 'treat'.

2. behaviour, jokes, or remarks about sex or bodily functions that most people cons

2.名詞B2
釋義

behaviour, jokes, or remarks about sex or bodily functions that most people consider embarrassing, offensive, or inappropriate for a particular setting.

例句

The TV show was criticized for the rudeness of its jokes about bodily functions.

rudeness of jokes / comedy

Joon left the meeting when a colleague's bathroom jokes made everyone uncomfortable.

bodily rudeness in a formal setting

同義詞
  • vulgarity

    stronger and more negative; implies something is not just rude but crude and tasteless

  • crudeness

    can overlap with sense 3 (rough quality); in this context, it emphasizes a lack of refinement or delicacy

  • indecency

    suggests that something violates social or legal standards of propriety

反義詞
  • decency

    behaviour that respects social norms about appropriate topics

  • propriety

    formal term for correct, socially acceptable behaviour

文法句型

rudeness of + noun phrase (jokes, comments, language, material)

sexual rudeness / bodily rudeness

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with sense 1 but is narrower: it refers specifically to the topic of the remark (sex or bodily functions), not the manner. A joke can be sexually rude even if delivered politely. Adverbs like 'sexually' or 'bodily' can be added before 'rude' to clarify this sense.

常見錯誤

❌His jokes were full of rudeness about politics.
✅His jokes were full of rudeness about sex and the body.
💡this sense is limited to sexual and bodily topics only.

3. a rough and unpolished condition found in an object that was made with basic too

3.名詞C1
釋義

a rough and unpolished condition found in an object that was made with basic tools and little attention to detail.

例句

The bench's rudeness showed that it was built from rough planks in a hurry.

rudeness of a physical object; built + with rough planks

Nia admired the rudeness of the old pottery, with its uneven edges and coarse surface.

describing handmade objects; coarse surface

同義詞
  • crudeness

    more common in modern English; can refer to both physical objects and lack of skill

  • roughness

    focuses on texture or finish rather than the quality of construction

  • coarseness

    can describe texture but also overlaps with sense 2 (vulgarity) in social contexts

反義詞
  • refinement

    the quality of being carefully made with attention to detail

  • elegance

    a high degree of polish and sophistication in design or execution

  • sophistication

    advanced or complex quality in construction or design

文法句型

the rudeness of + concrete noun (construction, workmanship, carving, shelter, pottery)

用法筆記

This is an archaic or literary sense. In modern everyday English, 'crudeness' or 'roughness' is far more common for physical objects. This sense survives mainly in descriptions of handmade objects, early craftsmanship, or simple shelters.

常見錯誤

❌The rudeness of his cooking surprised nobody.
✅The crudeness of his cooking surprised nobody.
💡for food or skill-based activities, use 'crudeness' rather than 'rudeness'.