nude 1 of 2

nude

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noun

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body the artist painted some models in the nude

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective nude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nude are bald, bare, barren, and naked. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

In what contexts can bald take the place of nude?

While in some cases nearly identical to nude, bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is bare a more appropriate choice than nude?

While the synonyms bare and nude are close in meaning, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When can barren be used instead of nude?

The meanings of barren and nude largely overlap; however, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When would naked be a good substitute for nude?

The synonyms naked and nude are sometimes interchangeable, but naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

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 nude
Adjective
Playalinda Beach, a remote stretch of the Canaveral National Seashore known for its legal nude sunbathing, could see access to the beach reduced by as many as 60 times per year, sparking vocal opposition from nudists, environmentalists and local residents. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025 Strings of beads were draped on nude illusion fabric to create a mini dress and a top with cascades of glitz and glamour. Blue Carreon, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Posing nude for Playboy’s famous centerfold is optional — and also must be auditioned for. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025 On Monday, Cyrus was seen posing nude on the cover of Perfect Magazine. Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nude
Adjective
  • Episode 5 opens with a postal worker’s 2020 account of seeing Sellers naked in the woods, with his face covered, carrying a child’s jacket.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
  • To the naked eye, Saturn will be a steady, golden point of light that won’t twinkle, as stars do.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Playalinda is one of four public beaches in Florida where nudity is legal.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • That's because nudity can take on drastically different meanings.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nude. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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