Basic Details
Word: Rudeness
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Behaviour or speech that is not polite and shows no respect for other people's feelings.
Synonyms: impoliteness, disrespect, insolence, bad manners
Antonyms: politeness, courtesy, respect
How to Spell Rudeness
Syllables: rude - ness
Tricky part: Rude keeps its e when -ness is added, because the suffix starts with a consonant. The word then ends in a double s.
Watch out for: rudness, rudenes, rudeniss
Memory tip: Line it up with politeness and lateness: rude + ness, polite + ness, late + ness. The e stays in all three.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Her rudeness to the waiter embarrassed everyone at the table.
Example 2: Shouting at the bus conductor was plain rudeness.
Example 3: The coach would not put up with rudeness from any player, however talented.
Fun Fact
Rude once meant rough or roughly made, so a rude hut was a simply built one, not an impolite one. It comes from Latin rudis, raw or rough, also seen in rudimentary.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the suffix -ness to make a real word. Choose it:
-ness
a) insult
b) rude
c) anger
d) behave
Show answer
b) rude. Rude becomes rudeness; the others make nouns in different ways, such as behaviour.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word rudeness as used in the sentence:
The shopkeeper's rudeness drove away even his oldest and most loyal customers.
a) insolence
b) disrespect
c) impudence
d) courtesy
Show answer
d) courtesy. Courtesy is polite and kind behaviour, the very thing the shopkeeper lacked.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
ruedeness
a) e
b) n
c) d
d) u
Show answer
a) e. Rude is r-u-d-e, so the e squeezed in after the u has no place there.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is an act of rudeness?
a) thanking the bus driver
b) waiting for your turn in a queue
c) holding a door open for someone
d) talking over someone who is speaking
Show answer
d) talking over someone who is speaking
2. A reply full of rudeness would most likely make the listener feel ____.
a) offended
b) relaxed
c) proud
d) grateful
Show answer
a) offended
