CRUD Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

crud

noun

ˈkrəd

Definition of crud

as in dirt

foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something you must have stepped in something, because there's crud all over your shoe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bastard

slang a person whose behavior is offensive to others I don't care how hip that clothing store is, their employees behave like absolute cruds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 crud That includes self emptying debris into a washable bin that should hold up to a month's worth of crud, cleaning its own mop pad with hot water and drying it with hot air, and self-refilling with clean water from a tank inside its dock. — New Atlas, 8 Mar. 2026 In addition, deep cleaning the crud out of appliances extends lifespan and functionality. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026 Generous tip and tail rocker ensures effortless flotation in powder and spring slush, and the ski’s responsive nature makes navigating crud and chop surprisingly intuitive. — Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 19 Nov. 2025 But my 7-year-old needs to go to second grade, and there's just going to be crud that comes home. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crud

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crud

Noun

Sulfates are cleansing agents that attract oil, product buildup, and dirt.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
Exit the parking lot in the southeast corner and head to the Lower Beacon Trail, a wide flat dirt path parallel to the road.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of dirt

Noun

The latter accidentally does happen, which leads to power struggles between the bigoted jerk and our trio of heroines.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Duffy, for his part, came across as a real jerk at times, but surprisingly charming at others, with a half-nerd, half-jock mien—sweepy hair, big glasses, a megawatt smile—that put me in mind of a Wisconsin Sam Seaborn.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of jerk

Noun

The film could have only benefited from narrowing its scope away from all the government muck, an attempt to flesh out a mythology for its villains that are scarier simply as faceless, mysterious weapons of mass destruction.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2026
The deep muck provides a cap for the shallow aquifer, helping to clean and filter freshwater that supplies drinking water for Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and parts of Palm Beach County.

— Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of muck

Noun

The local community has also rallied to help the family by delivering meals, caring for their kids and walking their dog.

— Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Four months later, he was seen last weekend walking dogs, taking walks, enjoying a cup of coffee in a garage, and even stopping to sift through neighborhood trash items on the side of the street.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of dog

Noun

After about a month of consistently moist soil in a warm place with bright, indirect light, your chrysanthemum cutting should be rooted.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
Stronger downdraft winds and loose, dry soil can impact how much dust is lifted into the air.

— Brandi D. Addison, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of soil

Noun

But my favorite Tim Curry performance will always be Pennywise, the clown in Tommy Lee Wallace’s 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It, which, compared to Andy Muschietti’s mega popular pair of films, is modest, even a little lame.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Curry, who died Tuesday at 80, made a gleefully evil turn as a clown that sparked nightmares for legions of Gen X and millennial viewers that continue to haunt to this day.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of clown

Noun

Residents sat in homes with walls washed away by the floods, shoveling sludge-like mud and rubble off balconies or window frames.

— Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Venezuelan oil, by contrast, is heavy, sour sludge, which can more easily be distilled into asphalt, industrial oils, diesel and jet fuel.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of sludge

Browse Nearby Words

crucifying

crud

cruddy

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Crud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crud. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of crud

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes