crudely
gb/kɹˈudli/ us/kɹˈudli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a rough, unskilled way
in a rough way; not made carefully
Usage pattern:
[something] is crudely made/drawn/carved/constructed
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse crudely with roughly in the sense of speed; crudely focuses on lack of skill or refinement.
Synonyms
roughly (General word for not smooth or carefully done.)
|
coarsely (Emphasizes a lack of fine texture or refinement.)
|
poorly (Focuses on low quality rather than roughness.)
|
clumsily (Highlights awkward, unskilled movement or execution.)
Antonyms
finely (With delicate detail and high quality.)
|
skillfully (With expertise and good technique.)
|
carefully (With attention and caution.)
Collocations
crudely made
|crudely drawn
|crudely carved
|crudely constructed
|crudely built
|crudely painted
|crudely assembled
|crudely stitched
|crudely shaped
|crudely cut
Themes
materials
|craft
|quality
Examples
- The sign was crudely painted on a piece of plywood.
- A crudely drawn map was taped to the door for visitors.
- The statue had been crudely repaired with glue.
Learner examples
- The box was crudely made.
- He crudely carved his name into the table.
adverb
C1
property
2
in a rude or offensive way
in a rude way that may offend people
Usage pattern:
[someone] speaks/jokes/remarks crudely (about [something])
Common mistake:
Crudely does not just mean honest; it implies a lack of politeness or good taste.
Synonyms
vulgarly (Stronger emphasis on bad taste and indecency.)
|
coarsely (Suggests rough, impolite language or manners.)
|
rudely (More general; may lack the sexual/off-color implication.)
|
crassly (Emphasizes tastelessness and social insensitivity.)
Antonyms
politely (In a manner showing respect and good manners.)
|
tactfully (With sensitivity to others' feelings.)
|
respectfully (Showing consideration and esteem.)
Collocations
crudely joke
|crudely remark
|crudely refer
|crudely describe
|crudely worded
|crudely sexual
|crudely racist
|crudely insulting
|crudely dismissive
|crudely suggest
Themes
communication
|social
|emotions
Examples
- He crudely joked about her appearance, and the room went quiet.
- The article crudely reduced a complex issue to stereotypes.
- She complained that the host had spoken crudely on air.
Learner examples
- Please don't talk crudely in class.
adverb
formal
C1
property
3
in a basic, approximate way
in a very simple way; not exact
Usage pattern:
crudely estimate/calculate/measure/model [something]
Common mistake:
Do not use crudely when you only mean quickly; it means not precise or not refined.
Synonyms
roughly (Most common for approximate numbers or estimates.)
|
approximately (More neutral and precise-sounding than crudely.)
|
broadly (Emphasizes general categories rather than detail.)
|
simplistically (Suggests an overly simple (possibly misleading) approach.)
Antonyms
precisely (With exact accuracy.)
|
accurately (Correctly, without error.)
|
exactly (With no deviation from the true value.)
Collocations
crudely estimate
|crudely calculate
|crudely measure
|crudely approximate
|crudely model
|crudely divide
|crudely compare
|crudely summarize
|crudely speaking
|crudely put
Themes
education
|science
|numbers
Examples
- We crudely estimated the cost by comparing it to last year's budget.
- The model crudely predicts demand but misses seasonal effects.
- Crudely speaking, the north is wetter and the south is drier.
Learner examples
- I crudely estimated the time as two hours.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crudely
IPA
GB/kɹˈudli/
US/kɹˈudli/
Syllables & stress
crudely (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (crudely)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: crudely
- Plural: crudelies
Word family
Forms
crudelies
noun
Core family
crude
adjective B2
crudeness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
refined
adjective
Advanced or less common
crudity
noun
Expressions
crudely speaking
1/kɹˈudli spˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
speaking in broad terms
used before a simple, not exact explanation
Examples
- Crudely speaking, the faster the engine spins, the more fuel it uses.
- Crudely speaking, most costs fall into labor and materials.
- Crudely speaking, the new law makes it harder to sue.
to put it crudely
1/tə pˈʊt ˈɪt kɹˈudli/
fixed phrase
to say something bluntly
used before a very direct statement
Examples
- To put it crudely, the project failed because nobody took responsibility.
- To put it crudely, they wanted more money and less work.
- To put it crudely, the battery is dead.