1
a
: gross sense 2a
especially : having or indicating such grossness of mind as precludes delicacy and discrimination
b
: being beneath one's dignity
crass concerns of daily life
c
used as a pejorative intensifier
crass flattery
crass propaganda
2
: guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values
crass commercialism
crass measures of success
crassly adverb
crassness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for crass

stupid, dull, dense, crass, dumb mean lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions.

stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm
stupid with drink

dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

Examples of crass in a Sentence

We are urgently in need of progress, but not if it means the kind of crass complacency that ignores the fact that history for most men and women to date has meant misery and fruitless toil … Terry Eagleton, Harper's, March 2005
Minor criticism though it was compared to the rest, the most galling calumny of all as far as Gaius Marius was concerned was the perpetual inference that he was unacceptably crass because he had no Greek. Colleen McCullough, The First Man in Rome, (1990) 1991
He had removed her from that crass monied Middle Atlantic society where she had seemed stilted and fragile. John Updike, Couples, 1968
A few people seemed shocked by her crass comments. a loudmouthed jerk given to rude jokes and crass comments
Recent Examples on the Web Ironically, in crass market terms, the art downtown may be collectively more valuable than the real estate being sold. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 This playful romp, complete with chirpy hiccups, was sniffed at as crass and materialistic by critics waiting for another reason to resist Madonna's mania in 1984. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 The tale, based on a true story, brings two unlikely figures together — a wise but imperiled feudal lord and a brash, crass British pilot whose ship got washed ashore. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 There is also this crass reality: Republicans are in no real risk of losing Gallagher’s seat. TIME, 13 Feb. 2024 President Biden took the border fight directly to former President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday, blaming his predecessor and putative challenger for torpedoing a bipartisan immigration agreement out of crass politics at the expense of national security. Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 Rob James-Collier (Thomas Barrow) From the start of the series, Rob James-Collier's junior butler Thomas Barrow is intense, focused, and at times crass and dramatic. EW.com, 27 Jan. 2024 His story is one of a hero, who rises to a challenge and succeeds unexpectedly; and also that a hero can fail tragically, be misunderstood, be subject to the low, crass, self-interested side of human nature, of tawdry rumors and politics, be attacked, to be canceled. Charles Oppenheimer, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 That’s why a dating bounty might seem crass, even though paying for a dating coach or for Hinge premium subscription is fine, said Michal Naisteter, a professional matchmaker in Philadelphia. Angela Chen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin crassus thick, gross

First Known Use

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of crass was circa 1625

Dictionary Entries Near crass

Cite this Entry

“Crass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crass. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

crass

adjective
: showing no interest in the finer things : insensitive
crassly adverb
crassness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on crass

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