Do you know the definition of lewd? This guide will provide you with all of the knowledge you need on the word lewd, including its definition, etymology, synonyms, example sentences, and more!
-
Kevin
-
October 4, 2021
-
Common Questions
Your writing, at its best
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
What does the word lewd mean?
According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word lewd is an adjective that means sexual, crude, or obscene. The pronunciation of lewd is luːd.
Many people and things can be lewd, including lewd libidinous orgies, lewd fellows of the baser sort, lewd females, lewd young noblemen, a lewd woman of mean birth, lewd odious diseases, lewd pornography, lewd obscene telephone calls, the lewd whisperings of a dirty old man, salacious limericks, indecent exposure, unlawful sexual desire, lewd harassment, promiscuous indulgence of lust, lewd members of the organization, obscene images, revellings of the gentileslustful desires, moreal looseness, lewd women, lewd lawyers, lewd conduct, lascivious conduct, a crude sexual desire,
Words meaning lewd are also used in many other languages. You may notice that some of these words and phrases look and sound similar to one another. These are called cognates which are often formed when two words in different languages have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of lewd is provided by Word Sense.
- Scots: roch
- Persian: لچر (lačar)
- Scottish Gaelic: mì-gheanmnaidh, drabasta
- French: lascif (masc.), lascive (fem.), lubrique
- Greek: πρόστυχος, ασελγής
- Mandarin: 好色 (hàosè), 淫蕩, 淫荡 (yíndàng)
- Ukrainian: хти́вий
- Japanese: 助け平 (sukebei), 嫌らしい (iyarashii), エッチ (etchi)
- Portuguese: lascivo, indecente
- Irish: graosta
- Roman: prȍsto, ràzvratno, lascivno, blȗdno, rȁzuzdāno (euphemism)
- Finnish: irstas, rietas
- Arabic: فَاسِق, دَاعِر, شَهْوَانِيّ, شَبِق, غَلِم
- Russian: похотли́вый, развра́тный, блудли́вый, распу́щенный, распу́тный, сладостра́стный, похабный (masc.)
- Swedish: liderlig, vällustig, oanständig, obscen
- Polish: sprośny
- Spanish: lascivo
- German: lüstern, lasziv
- Maori: tīweka, karihika
- Catalan: lasciu
- Dutch: liederlijk
- Italian: lascivo
- Romanian: lasciv (masc.), indecent (masc.)
What is the origin of the word lewd?
According to Etymonline, the word lewd has been used since the c13/c14 Middle English leud and Old English lǣwede, a derivative of the past participle of lǣwan. These are of uncertain origin but probably from the Vulgar Latin laigo, Late Latin laicus, and more. One can add the suffix ly and ness to the word lewd to make lewdly (adv.) and lewdness (n.) This is of obscure origin and unknown origin, but it is likely Proto-Germanic or Proto-Indo-European in its original sense.
How can the word lewd be used in a sentence?
The word lewd can be used in many different ways in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions and incorporate them into your vocabulary. You could also try making a quiz or flashcards to test your knowledge of different definitions. Try using this new word of the day in a sentence today! You never know, it might become a new favorite word. Below are a couple of examples of lewd being used in English language sentences to help get you started.
The fans did lewd behavior and rabble rousing, so much so that the police arrested them for moral looseness and lustful desires for a felony.
There was an NFL investigation done by the top managers about the unsuspecting women in the cheerleading program who were shown lewd material without their consent. There was a riot outside the temple stadium when the public heard about the confidential settlement.
It was Nina’s time to talk in the legal battle about the lewd videos and unsolicited lewd photos she had received from the member of the Texas legislature as part of its push to get him arrested.
The women from the lower classes and the other common people were shown a lewd indecent gesture from the people of nobility. They were supposed to be people of honour and vigor, but showed their genitalia and buttocks to the masses.
To her plain honest parents, her humble acknowledgements of selling lewd photos for the sake of money and fortunes to a disagreeable person so she could have a tolerable education was shocking.
What are synonyms and antonyms of the word lewd?
There are many different equivalent words that a person can use in place of the word lewd (adj.). These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. One might choose to use a synonym because they want to avoid repeating themselves, or because they would like to work on expanding their vocabulary. This list of synonyms for the word lewd is provided by Power Thesaurus.
- promiscuous
- dissolute
- cyprian
- ribald
- libidinous
- satyric
- rude
- degenerate
- lubricious
- dirty-minded
- depraved
- coarse
- explicit
- fleshly
- fescennine
- rabelaisian
- sinful
- lickerish
- adult
- oversexed
- suggestive
- naughty
- obscene
- porno
- voluptuous
- debased
- raunchy
- unchaste
- prurient
- fast
- off-color
- unprincipled
- immoral
- filthy
- lustful
- steamy
- scurrilous
- locker-room
- vile
- dissipated
- nasty
- barnyard
- unseemly
- loose
- sexual
- vulgar
- sensual
- earthy
- debauched
- offensive
- improper
- racy
- salacious
- scatological
- profane
- crude
- bawdy
- off colour
- hot
- incontinent
- foul
- wanton
- corrupt
- pornographic
- shameless
- shameful
- evil
- libertine
- ruttish
- lascivious
- erotic
- broad
- titillating
- lecherous
- gross
- wicked
- goatish
- amorous
- foul-mouthed
- profligate
- x-rated
- indelicate
- risque
- impure
- blue
- concupiscent
- carnal
- smutty
- randy
- indecent
- immodest
- horny
- licentious
- dirty
- tasteless
- abandoned
- lubricous
- amatory
- evil-minded
- sexy
There are also a great many words that mean the opposite of the word lewd. These opposite words are called antonyms. English language antonyms are also very useful grammatical devices to know. This list of antonyms for the word lewd is also provided by Power Thesaurus.
- maidenly
- tame
- nonobscene
- frigid
- g-rated
- upright
- safe
- sinless
- ascetic
- undersexed
- incorrupt
- uncontaminated
- boring
- apathetic
- innocuous
- immaculate
- self-restrained
- clean
- unattractive
- puritanical
- maiden
- mild
- moral
- emotionless
- guiltless
- innocent
- off-putting
- shameful
- antaphrodisiac
- nonprovocative
- hurtless
- cold
- undefiled
- demure
- platonic
- big
- continent
- decent
- non-sexual
- great
- self-denying
- impeccable
- friendly
- as pure as the driven snow
- shiniest
- good
- passionless
- aloof
- strait-laced
- harmless
- proper
- nunlike
- modest
- chaste
- unfeeling
- blasé
- straight laced
- indifferent
- pure
- white
- uncorrupted
- spiritual
- unobjectionable
- ethic
- virtuous
- intact
- detached
- perfect
- pleasing
- psychogenic
- benevolent
- squeaky clean
- disinterested
- nonerotic
- unmarried
- uninvolved
- unconcerned
- free of sin
- unoffending
- elegant
- celibate
- pure as the driven snow
- decorous
- inoffensive
- dispassionate
- nonsexy
- unerotic
- uncurious
- unsullied
- dull
- wholesome
- unaroused
- unemotional
- impassive
- cool
- abstinent
- mannerable
- uninterested
- bland
- guilt-free
Overall, the word lewd means sexual. This word has an unknown origin.
Sources:
