1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
bystanders were shocked by the lewd behavior of the couple in the park
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passionate
having a strong sexual desire
a lewd 18th-century nobleman who left behind hundreds of erotic love letters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in suggestive
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent
a nearby diner kept telling lewd jokes until we told him to shut up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lewd
He was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12 years old, according to an arrest affidavit from the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Panama City, Florida.
—
CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
After his arrest, Aguilar admitted to receiving lewd images from the boy, authorities said in court filings.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
There, he is charged with molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said in a news release this week.
—Janat Batra, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
The charges that could carry the heaviest punishment for Williams are rape, forcible penetration and lewd conduct with a minor.
—Shannon Tyler
march 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lewd
CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
After his arrest, Aguilar admitted to receiving lewd images from the boy, authorities said in court filings.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
There, he is charged with molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said in a news release this week.
—Janat Batra, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
The charges that could carry the heaviest punishment for Williams are rape, forcible penetration and lewd conduct with a minor.
—Shannon Tyler
march 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lewd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lewd
Adjective
-
Lauren Elliott, though, was a designer at Broderbund Games, working in a former liquor store beneath a sign that said DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY REDUCTION DEPARTMENT alongside an impish ex-Disney animator named Gene Portwood who often doodled Mickey Mouse in obscene poses.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Using obscene or abusive language Any use of profanity, insults or abusive language is prohibited under the FDCPA.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Malinin, at the post-skate press conference following his world title victory, made his thoughts known in a passionate plea to the ISU (International Skating Union).—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Fans are going to be passionate.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For now, however, the evidence remains suggestive rather than definitive.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Wasserman rode on Epstein’s plane and exchanged suggestive messages with Maxwell, the files the DOJ released show.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Brazil requires supervision and restricts the infinite scroll A Brazilian law that seeks to shield minors from addictive, violent and pornographic online content took effect this month, with experts calling it a milestone in the protection of children and adolescents.—
Barbara Ortutay,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
More than 100 students and parents from Lancaster Country Day School were in court to hear victims describe the shock of having to identify their own faces in pornographic photos to detectives.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the script flipped in the third quarter, as the Cavaliers got hot and the Heat went cold from behind the arc.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
These cards use more power than earlier Arc Pros and are likely to get too hot to run fanless without some performance penalty, but this card's thermal design allows air to pass straight through its enclosure and out the back of the case.—
Michael Justin Allen Sexton,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Then there’s upscale Mexican restaurant El Molino, with its spicy twist on local Baja California cuisine, and Farina e Olio, an oceanfront Italian trattoria serving melt-in-your-mouth ravioli and life-altering desserts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The red king, which is a spicy version of their pork broth ramen, was worth the years of anticipation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Doncic claimed Bitadze directed a vulgar comment about Doncic’s family in Serbian toward the Lakers star guard.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Both were charged with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, indecent exposure, and resisting arrest.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Larry Leroy Candies was arrested on suspicion of eight counts of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 years old, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday afternoon in a news release.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lewd. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
