How does the adjective 'rude' differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of rude are crude, raw, and rough. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.
// rude behavior
When is 'rough' a more appropriate choice than 'rude'?
The synonyms rough and rude are sometimes interchangeable, but rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.
// rough manners
Where would 'crude' be a reasonable alternative to 'rude'?
The words crude and rude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.
// a crude joke
I'm trying to find an adjective to describe a character in my in-progress novella who's kinda rude and dismissive toward the protagonist, but they're aristocrats in early 19th-century Europe (protag is a princess), so he has to mask it with layers of insincere politeness. Think Jane Austen antagonists who make backhanded compliments and have to at least pretend to be polite when they're being rude.
(lmk if this post should go in a different subreddit, I'm new at this!)