lewd

[lood]

adjective

lewder, lewdest 

1. inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust or lechery; lascivious.

2. obscene or indecent, as language or songs; salacious.

3. Obsolete.

   1. low, ignorant, or vulgar.

   2. base, vile, or wicked, especially of a person.

   3. bad, worthless, or poor, especially of a thing.

lewd

/ luːd /

adjective

1. characterized by or intended to excite crude sexual desire; obscene

2. obsolete

   1. wicked

   2. ignorant

Other Word Forms

• lewdness noun
• lewdly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewd¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English leud, lewed, Old English lǣwede “lay, unlearned”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewd¹

C14: from Old English lǣwde lay, ignorant; see _lay ³

Example Sentences

Cascante was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, lewd acts with a child under 14 and lewd acts with a child using force or fear.

From Los Angeles Times

She said the arrests were for homicide, gun offences, drug dealing, lewd acts, stalking, reckless driving, and other crimes.

From BBC

The officers watched as the suspect followed the woman, crouched behind her and engaged “in lewd behavior by inappropriately sniffing her buttocks,” the release said.

From Los Angeles Times

The Journal reviewed copies of a collection of lewd letters that Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, gathered from Epstein’s friends and colleagues and compiled in an album to mark his 2003 birthday.

From Los Angeles Times

The Journal reviewed copies of a collection of lewd letters that Ghislaine Maxwell gathered from Epstein’s friends and colleagues and compiled in a leather-bound album to mark his birthday in 2003.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bawdy 
• coarse 
• erotic 
• lascivious 
• naughty 
• obscene 
• off-color 
• pornographic 
• racy 
• ribald 
• salacious 
• suggestive 
• vile