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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of vulgar are coarse, gross, obscene, and ribald. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

When is it sensible to use coarse instead of vulgar?

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

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When might gross be a better fit than vulgar?

The synonyms gross and vulgar are sometimes interchangeable, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

In what contexts can obscene take the place of vulgar?

While in some cases nearly identical to vulgar, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

Where would ribald be a reasonable alternative to vulgar?

In some situations, the words ribald and vulgar are roughly equivalent. However, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

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 vulgar Truly, there is no one who does vulgar auteurism like Anderson. Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025 The Europeans were enchanted by the expressive fluency that the New York critics had considered vulgar. David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025 The chief spoke at the LAPD’s Police Commission weekly meeting Tuesday, a day after news broke that officers from the department’s recruitment and employment division had been unknowingly recorded making vulgar comments, including while talking about police applicants. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025 The childish use of vulgar profanity simply leads peoople to view the speaker as being unable to express his/her view. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
  • That high prices foretell lower prices rates more discussion as Republicans and conservatives rush to anoint former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chairman.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • That's why the ratings, the approval numbers of the media are so low.
    CBS News, CBS News, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • The investigation began when detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit served a search warrant in Bakersfield based on a tip about a person who was in possession and used obscene material involving an underage girl, authorities announced in a news release on Tuesday.
    Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
  • With his plea, a federal indictment relating to transfer of obscene material to a minor would not be pursued.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • Indeed, a 2019 study by the Happiness Research Institute found that 73 percent of people who are happy with their homes also are happier in general.
    Matt Alderton, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • In general, however, Ukraine's natural resources are considered to have signifiant commercial potential.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Related Articles Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
  • Grand Theft Auto is famous for its crass, satirical sense of humor.
    Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • Because back nine is close to backside, and backside is just far too colloquial.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Russ Scholl, a ski instructor at Breckenridge Ski Resort, has published a 133-square grid of funky colloquial phrases for different types of snow.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s an ignoble tradition of falsified memoirs.
    Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Until then, there are the Razzies, an ignoble accolade marking the very worst movies and acting performances of the year.
    Marco della Cava, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • There is something shocking, almost rude, about comparing the aims of wardens and guards to those of curators and artists, but McKenzie has her reasons.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
  • But the 37-year-old doesn’t always see eye to eye with fans, at least not those who frequently heckle him, and Pham’s reaction is too often rude, crude and lewd.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This eye-catching merger of the vernacular and the global — winding its way into the pavilion with wooden flooring, shelving and displays — will host discussions, performances and, hopefully, more impromptu gatherings.
    Sam Lubell, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • There’s very few vernacular places left in America.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 14 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vulgar

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