Definition of obscenenext
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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of obscene are coarse, gross, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," 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 might coarse be a better fit than obscene?

While the synonyms coarse and obscene are close in meaning, coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When is gross a more appropriate choice than obscene?

The words gross and obscene can be used in similar contexts, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When would ribald be a good substitute for obscene?

The words ribald and obscene are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

In what contexts can vulgar take the place of obscene?

The synonyms vulgar and obscene are sometimes interchangeable, but vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

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 obscene The amount of money spent on election campaigns is absolutely obscene. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2026 Their charges reportedly include assaulting a police officer, disorderly behavior in a police station, disorderly behavior, resisting arrest, obscene language, escape from lawful custody, causing dangerous harm and two counts of damage and obstruction. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 The family members either submitted to the indignities—the false testimony, the obscene bullet fees—or were asked for bribes as high as $7,000 to avoid consigning their relatives to mass graves. Laura Secor, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 An obscene price to pay for a hard-working native New Yorker. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
  • Gibson asked for pornographic images of the minor, and sent photos of himself, according to court documents.
    Kendrick Calfee June 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
  • While Washington drags its feet, kids across the nation are being exposed to vile, pornographic images and ads with no meaningful safeguards to prevent it.
    Rachel del Guidice, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • French broadcaster French Pierron was under fire for calling childbirth 'a disgusting moment.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
  • How to make the moment scary but watchable, disgusting but entrancing?
    David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • Others were removed early on for vulgar or inappropriate comments, according to a PGA Tour source with knowledge of the events, with five spectators in total ejected from the tournament with six holes to go.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 21 June 2026
  • In recent years, Trae Young has repeatedly tormented the Knicks at the famed Madison Square Garden, turning clutch shots and postgame showmanship into vulgar chants from New York fans.
    Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • With one notable exception, everyone over there has nothing but ugly things to say about their main villa counterparts.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Women superheroes have always activated an ugly segment of the internet.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Human remains were found in the chimney of a public school in Queens, New York, on Tuesday morning while officials were investigating a foul odor, according to police.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • While some of the Dutch pleaded for a foul, Gakpo raced in to score on the rebound.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Messi shook off his awful spot kick to deliver another match-winning masterclass against Austria and become the competition’s all-time top scorer in the process.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • But the Windows handheld software experience on the Claw is just awful compared to the straightforwardness of SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
    Jay Peters, The Verge, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Including some rather nasty, big corpo bullies who enlist specialist teams to hunt down clues, and other players, too.
    Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 July 2026
  • Betty Kovacs, the eldest daughter of comedian Ernie Kovacs who with her sister Kippie and stepmother, actress-singer Edie Adams, was at the center of a nasty custody battle that kept Hollywood riveted in 1962, has died.
    Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Red Sox offense has been horrible this season, but Contreras has been everything the club could have hoped for.
    Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
  • Your cab driver is taking you on a horrible route.
    Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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