1
as in vulgarity
the quality or state of being obscene
the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
uttered a loud obscenity when he dropped the hammer on his toe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscenity
In one of the incidents, someone spray painted an obscenity believed to be directed at Musk before being chased away by a security guard, according to a Loveland police affidavit.
—
Colleen Slevin, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2025
Was it manager Ruud van Nistelrooy mouthing obscenities at his players (and apologies to the lipreaders among you for the gif at the top of today’s TAFC)?
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Yet the movie also contains, by my count, more than a dozen significant obscenities, as well as enough death to scar the Bluey crowd for life.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Before some of you Jets fans direct obscenities in my direction, hear me out for a minute.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Colleen Slevin, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2025
Was it manager Ruud van Nistelrooy mouthing obscenities at his players (and apologies to the lipreaders among you for the gif at the top of today’s TAFC)?
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Yet the movie also contains, by my count, more than a dozen significant obscenities, as well as enough death to scar the Bluey crowd for life.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Before some of you Jets fans direct obscenities in my direction, hear me out for a minute.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
Noun
-
Lashing out from the White House, Mr. Trump used a vulgarity to accuse Mr. Xi and Mr. Lam of plotting to exploit the United States.—
Ann Scott Tyson,
Christian Science Monitor,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Those incidents range from keying swastikas to spray-painting other vulgarities.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This wasn't the first time one reduced me to spewing curses, just the first time a robot has accused me of impertinence.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
-
But many are finding that blessing comes with a curse.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The word was forbidden in their household and treated like a swear.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
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Is this the kind of situation where mild swears seem generally used?—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Simard isn't the only notable figure to drop an uncensored bit of profanity on live television in recent months.—
Joey Nolfi,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
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Those changes included price cuts or hikes of a few dollars, profanities and altering allergens in certain items.—
Adeel Hassan,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
According to the federal government, California is home to the largest number of international students, and the most popular majors among international students are computer science, language, and business administration and management.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
In addition to sculpture and installation, Nkanga is also a poet; a role that deepens her intuitive, layered relationship to language and form.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
-
The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Noun
-
The spokesperson did not respond to an email from the Statesman about the new indecency bill.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Feb. 2025
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Less than two years later in 1977, he was convicted of indecency with a 12-year-old girl and served just over three years in prison.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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During an interview with British outlet The Telegraph, Porter described a conversation with Wintour in the months leading up to Styles' cover and referred to the editor-in-chief using an expletive.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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During the third quarter of Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers’ only win in the series, a clip of Redick laying into the team with expletives during a timeout went viral.—
Jovan Buha,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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