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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
Happy anniversary to that nude bongo-playing sesh. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025 The show’s director, Whitney White (who earned a Tony nomination for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, her Broadway debut), was aware that its nude scene would require real forethought. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
The masked nude is a living collage. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2025 Its creamy texture spreads beautifully, the tapered point defines lips effortlessly, and the 12-color shade range is home to nudes, pinks, and reds that flatter a variety of skin tones (something else McGrath is known for nailing). Lily Wohlner, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nude
Adjective
  • Harmlessly wandering about the village, belly and breasts exposed—at times completely naked—Pagli discomforts established codes of etiquette.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The emperor was naked, a fool who’d been had.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Either way, there’s something wholesome about this movement, despite the partial nudity.
    Justin Williams, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Naked bike rides as a form of protest are not uncommon in major cities across the USA, and in Oregon, public nudity is considered a legal form of protest.
    Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nude. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

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