Gentle vs. Rude — What's the Difference?

Having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character

Offensively impolite or bad-mannered

Moderate in action, effect, or degree; not strong or violent

Having a startling abruptness

(of a person) noble or having the qualities attributed to noble birth; courteous and chivalrous.

Vigorous or hearty

Make or become gentle

Roughly made or done; lacking sophistication

A maggot, especially the larva of a blowfly, used as bait.

Ill-mannered, discourteous, or insulting

Considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender.

Undeveloped or uncivilized; primitive

Not harsh or severe; mild and soft

Crude, unfinished, or made with limited skill

Easily managed or handled; docile

In a natural, raw state

Not steep or sudden; gradual

Unpleasantly forceful or harsh

Of good family; wellborn

Chiefly British Vigorous or robust

Suited to one of good breeding; refined and polite

(Archaic) Lacking education or refinement

(Archaic) Noble; chivalrous

Lacking in refinement or civility; bad-mannered; discourteous.

One of good birth or relatively high station.

Lacking refinement or skill; untaught; ignorant; raw.

To make less severe or intense

Violent; abrupt; turbulent.

To soothe, as by stroking; pacify.

Somewhat obscene, pornographic, offensive.

To tame or break (a horse).

Undeveloped, unskilled, inelegant.

(Obsolete) To raise to the status of a noble.

Hearty, vigorous; found particularly in the phrase rude health.

Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition.

Crudely made; primitive.

Soft and mild rather than hard or severe.

Characterized by roughness; umpolished; raw; lacking delicacy or refinement; coarse.

Docile and easily managed.

Unformed by taste or skill; not nicely finished; not smoothed or polished; - said especially of material things; as, rude workmanship.

Gradual rather than steep or sudden.

Of untaught manners; unpolished; of low rank; uncivil; clownish; ignorant; raw; unskillful; - said of persons, or of conduct, skill, and the like.

Polite and respectful rather than rude.

Violent; tumultuous; boisterous; inclement; harsh; severe; - said of the weather, of storms, and the like; as, the rude winter.

(archaic) Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.

Barbarous; fierce; bloody; impetuous; - said of war, conflict, and the like; as, the rude shock of armies.

(intransitive) To become gentle.

Socially incorrect in behavior;

To ennoble.

(of persons) lacking in refinement or grace

To break; to tame; to domesticate.

Lacking civility or good manners;

(transitive) To soothe; to calm; to make gentle.

(used especially of commodities) in the natural unprocessed condition;

(archaic) A person of high birth.

Belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness;

(fishing) A maggot used as bait by anglers.

A trained falcon, or falcon-gentil.

Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.

Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern; mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender; as, a gentle nature, temper, or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice.

A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation; as, gentle reader.

Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse.

Soft; not violent or rough; not strong, loud, or disturbing; easy; soothing; pacific; as, a gentle touch; a gentle gallop .

One well born; a gentleman.

A trained falcon. See Falcon-gentil.

A dipterous larva used as fish bait.

To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble.

To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable.

To make kind and docile, as a horse.

Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of;

Give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility

Stroke soothingly

Soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe;

Having or showing a kindly or tender nature;

Quiet and soothing;

Belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy;

Easily handled or managed;

Having little impact;

Marked by moderate steepness;