Ether and sulfide meta-substituted anilides having the formula IN WHICH X is oxygen or sulfur; R is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, vinyloxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, alkyloxyalkyl, ketoalkyl, cinnamyl, and phenacyl; and R1 is alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl and chlorophenyl; provided that when X is oxygen, R is alkyl, and R1 is haloalkyl, then R1 is other than 1-monohaloalkyl. The compounds of this invention are useful as herbicides.