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
Some of us yelled obscenities instead.
—
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Since Missouri vanity plates have to follow the state obscenity law, a court would need to find that the state law violates the First Amendment.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
The suspect is also facing charges including interference with a professional sporting event, reckless endangerment, harassment and obscenity.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The novel, published to immediate controversy in India—an obscenity suit was filed over its portrayal of an intercaste romance—offended her Syrian Christian kin, who grumbled about misrepresentation.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Since Missouri vanity plates have to follow the state obscenity law, a court would need to find that the state law violates the First Amendment.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
The suspect is also facing charges including interference with a professional sporting event, reckless endangerment, harassment and obscenity.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The novel, published to immediate controversy in India—an obscenity suit was filed over its portrayal of an intercaste romance—offended her Syrian Christian kin, who grumbled about misrepresentation.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
Noun
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Many of the racist, nativist vulgarities spoken out loud in Paul Thomas Anderson’s marvelous new film One Battle After Another evoke sentiments that, in our world, first fomented online.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
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Scott also wanted that level of vulgarity because the song was inspired by true events.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But hallucination can become a curse when language models are applied in domains where the truth matters.—
Byron Cook,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
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But Pavel Zacha, drafted by the Devils sixth overall in 2015 as a centerman but who has bounced between pivot and wing throughout his career, looks at his versatility more as a blessing than a curse.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In fact, plenty of other things in your home surpass the toilet in terms of grossness.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Brain rot has become unavoidable, its grossness ubiquitous.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t pretend the cure for coarse speech is a swear jar.—
Eric Preven,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
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Taylor and Hinkle swear by bonnets, while Royal and others recommend tying longer styles into a loose bun or braid before wrapping.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This story references profanity and may be offensive to some readers.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
22 Sep. 2025
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Her closing line was audible in the room and in unedited online footage, though the broadcast censored the profanity.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Green’s order gave Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins seven days to rewrite the language of the ballot measure and the language that will be at polling places.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
24 Sep. 2025
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The book collects his writing, social media posts, and blogging in one English-language volume.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
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The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
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