Synonyms of gross

gross 1 of 3

adjective

ˈgrōs 

1

as in obscene

depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society

he was thrown out of class for making a gross gesture

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• foul
• nasty
• dirty
• filthy
• unacceptable
• crude
• disgusting
• suggestive
• unpleasant
• blue
• indecent
• offensive
• coarse
• naughty
• obnoxious
• undesirable
• lascivious
• raunchy
• trashy
• unwanted
• lewd
• impure
• abusive
• smutty
• profane
• bawdy
• unprintable
• locker-room
• ribald
• wanton
• broad
• gutter
• stag
• porny
• infamous
• wicked
• repulsive
• X-rated
• low
• revolting
• perverted
• soft
• scatological
• salacious
• indelicate
• depraved
• repugnant
• off
• indecorous
• loathsome
• salty
• objectionable
• unbecoming
• unwelcome
• earthy
• abhorrent
• immodest
• gamy
• perverse
• coarse-grained
• racy
• kinky
• repellent
• barnyard
• distasteful
• off-colored
• risqué
• reprehensible
• atrocious
• exceptionable
• gamey
• off-color
• censurable
• repellant
• scurrilous
• blameworthy
• louche
• blamable
• debasing
• hard-core
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• wholesome
• decent
• correct
• proper
• puritanical
• prudish
• acceptable
• respectable
• priggish
• nice
• polite
• Victorian
• innocuous
• prim
• appropriate
• staid
• desirable
• decorous
• pleasant
• genteel
• inoffensive
• seemly
• nonobscene
• pure
• agreeable
• suitable
• G-rated
• welcome
• perfect
• meet
• pleasing
• becoming
• straightlaced
• straitlaced
• immaculate
• fit
• spotless
• virginal
• approved
• sanctioned
• endorsed
• indorsed

2

as in plump

having an excess of body fat

a very gross cat trying to squeeze through a small opening in the fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plump
• fat
• full
• round
• fleshy
• thick
• obese
• overweight
• heavy
• corpulent
• blubbery
• chubby
• pudgy
• husky
• stout
• ripe
• lardy
• rotund
• tubby
• podgy
• replete
• portly
• soft
• roly-poly
• bulky
• plumpish
• dumpy
• beefy
• squat
• hefty
• flabby
• chunky
• stocky
• weighty
• thickset
• burly
• stubby
• brawny
• heavyset
• ample
• paunchy
• potbellied
• hippy
• buxom
• corn-fed
• endomorphic
• zaftig
• zoftig

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• thin
• lean
• angular
• skinny
• bony
• slender
• spare
• skeletal
• gaunt
• slim
• lanky
• puny
• slight
• wasted
• sinewy
• haggard
• lank
• rawboned
• emaciated
• cadaverous
• pinched
• scrawny
• stringy
• weedy
• scraggy
• boney
• waspish
• spindly
• reedy
• svelte
• rangy
• twiggy
• willowy
• anorexic
• sylphlike
• spindling
• ectomorphic

3

as in crass

lacking in refinement or good taste

she haughtily refused to mix with what she called "the gross masses who are unappreciative of fine art"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crass
• vulgar
• rude
• crude
• common
• coarse
• rough
• clumsy
• low
• uncouth
• lowbrow
• tasteless
• uncultured
• unpolished
• unrefined
• rugged
• uncultivated
• raffish
• insensible
• rough-hewn
• illiberal
• incult
• ill-bred
• lowbred
• ungentlemanly
• clownish
• boorish
• roughneck
• indelicate
• unsophisticated
• rustic
• thoughtless
• insensitive
• lumpish
• churlish
• loutish
• inconsiderate
• cloddish
• oafish
• rustical
• tacky
• lubberly
• provincial
• uncivilized
• inelegant
• barbaric
• barbarous
• countrified
• graceless
• unmannerly
• unmannered
• countryfied
• mannerless
• animallike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smooth
• civilized
• tasteful
• polished
• cultured
• refined
• genteel
• aristocratic
• cultivated
• sensitive
• elegant
• graceful
• restrained
• patrician
• well-bred
• courtly
• ultrarefined
• gracious
• sophisticated
• thoughtful
• considerate
• urbane
• citified

4

as in blatant

very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad

a gross mistake that some proofreader should have caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blatant
• obvious
• glaring
• egregious
• flagrant
• conspicuous
• striking
• pronounced
• terrible
• patent
• outstanding
• sheer
• noticeable
• distinct
• rank
• dramatic
• clear
• remarkable
• marked
• notable
• salient
• monstrous
• utter
• outright
• downright
• plain
• shocking
• showy
• evident
• prominent
• emphatic
• absolute
• shameful
• outrageous
• heinous
• abominable
• visible
• detectable
• awful
• discernible
• deplorable
• discernable
• perceptible
• observable
• atrocious
• stark
• out-and-out
• splashy
• arrant
• eye-catching
• execrable
• preposterous
• arresting
• lousy
• wretched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inconspicuous
• imperceptible
• small
• insignificant
• unobtrusive
• trivial
• slight
• trifling
• inconsequential
• inconsiderable
• unnoticeable
• invisible
• hidden
• concealed

5

as in disgusting

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

the little boy insisted that worms are gross

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disgusting
• ugly
• sickening
• horrible
• awful
• hideous
• shocking
• obscene
• obnoxious
• offensive
• dreadful
• nasty
• unpleasant
• repulsive
• evil
• revolting
• appalling
• gruesome
• repugnant
• abominable
• loathsome
• horrid
• scandalous
• odious
• terrible
• abhorrent
• nauseating
• horrific
• horrendous
• foul
• repellent
• noxious
• distasteful
• nauseous
• rancid
• undesirable
• disturbing
• noisome
• vile
• fulsome
• repellant
• unwanted
• monstrous
• objectionable
• hateful
• horrifying
• miserable
• detestable
• disagreeable
• grim
• unhealthy
• unwholesome
• contemptible
• sick
• heinous
• despicable
• unspeakable
• brackish
• ghastly
• grisly
• atrocious
• unwelcome
• macabre
• nightmarish
• exceptionable
• unsavory
• frightful
• sickly
• lurid
• execrable
• lousy
• hard
• uncivilized
• dislikeable
• unholy
• ungodly
• dislikable
• barbarous
• upsetting
• sickish
• distressing
• unchristian
• off-putting
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• acceptable
• attractive
• sweet
• delicious
• desirable
• inoffensive
• pleasant
• delightful
• appealing
• gratifying
• satisfying
• nice
• agreeable
• heavenly
• alluring
• dreamy
• welcome
• enjoyable
• delectable
• congenial
• palatable
• pleasurable
• luscious
• pleasing
• likable
• savory
• likeable
• darling
• felicitous
• savoury
• inviting
• unobjectionable
• blessed
• dulcet
• healthy
• unexceptionable
• wholesome
• blest
• healthful
• salutary
• salubrious
• restorative
• delightsome

gross

2 of 3

noun

1

as in total

Synonyms & Similar Words

• total
• amount
• whole
• sum
• score
• count
• census
• recount
• tally
• tale

2

as in revenue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revenue
• receipts
• income
• profit
• earnings
• payoff
• net
• proceeds
• gain
• return
• winnings
• bag
• spoils
• booty
• appropriation
• yield
• swag
• plunder
• haul
• loot
• catch
• collection
• bounty
• take

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loss
• deduction
• subtraction

gross

3 of 3

verb

as in to net

Synonyms & Similar Words

• net
• realize
• gain
• pull down
• obtain
• attain
• capture
• earn
• reap
• draw
• acquire
• win
• achieve
• bring in
• land
• procure
• garner
• come by
• accomplish
• secure
• carry
• knock down
• accumulate
• clear
• make
• score
• bag
• get
• amass
• notch (up)
• occupy
• catch
• rack up
• take over
• pick up
• annex
• regain
• recapture
• remake
• reattain
• reacquire

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• pay
• forfeit
• give
• grant
• yield
• accord
• give up
• surrender
• relinquish
• hand over
• part (with)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gross different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gross are coarse, obscene, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When can coarse be used instead of gross?

The synonyms coarse and gross are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

Where would obscene be a reasonable alternative to gross?

Although the words obscene and gross have much in common, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

When could ribald be used to replace gross?

The meanings of ribald and gross largely overlap; however, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

When is it sensible to use vulgar instead of gross?

While in some cases nearly identical to gross, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

Examples of gross in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This year’s grosses are expected to be even higher, according to Pollstar, the trade publication for live entertainment. —Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Sep. 2024

And Lambert called out of last Friday’s show, resulting in a large number of refunded or rescheduled tickets, with the weekly gross of $938,186 down $51,615 from the previous week. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024

And while Wicked, The Lion King and Hamilton still led the industry in terms of grosses, The Outsiders and MJ The Musical rounded out the top five. —Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Oct. 2024

With only three Broadway productions selling out last week, total grosses for the 29 shows was down about 7% from the previous week, settling in at $25,296,948. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing gross

• gross out