adjective
lewd
LOOD/luːd/
Offensively sexual or indecent.
The man's lewd gesture toward his groin draws disgust from the gathering.
Etymology
Old English læwede described someone outside the clergy or without learning. The sense shifted from “uneducated” to “coarse” and “lustful,” leading to the modern meaning of sexually indecent.
In context
their corrupt conduct their lewd and lascivious behavior that originated out of incestuous rape
More examples
- She reports a coworker for sending lewd messages.
- A driver makes a lewd gesture through the window.
- His jokes grow lewder as the evening goes on.
Forms
lewd · lewder · lewdest
lewdly adverb — In a sexually offensive or indecent way.
lewdness noun — The quality of being sexually offensive or indecent.
Similar words
- obscene
- Often stronger, suggesting extremely offensive sexual language or content.
- indecent
- Broader, including violations of propriety beyond sexual content.
- lascivious
- Emphasizes lustful desire rather than sexual offensiveness alone.