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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 Any combination of characters that have profane, lewd, vulgar or indecent meanings or connotations are not allowed, KDOR says. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2025 Many could be seen in social media videos waving transgender flags and holding signs – some vulgar – expressing opposition to Gaines and Krolczyk. Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025 One of them, a graduate student named Hailey, who had the kind of vulgar beauty of fecundity, duly fell pregnant. Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025 Dem rep's vulgar demand to ICE officers leads to calls to expel her from Congress MAJOR HEADLINES 'NEVER SEEN HER' – AOC, progressives ripped for ignoring 'Red Light district' as prostitution, filthy streets return. FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
  • Al Bello/Getty Images Outside of the Giants' organization, expectations are low.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Does the Trump administration really want to sink that low?
    Louis Balsamo, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • The ex-data processor for the Boston Transportation Department was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of: rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025
  • But the legal standard for what qualifies as obscene is extremely high.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Contour Face is fabulous for those interested in general regeneration or alleviating signs of aging, but those with acne-prone skin should consider its Clear mask which utilizes blue light, clinically proven to kill acne-causing bacteria.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • The new moon in your sign on January 29 will bring forward a fresh start in your finances as well as your life in general.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Most Popular Most Popular Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen’s crisis Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen's crisis Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
  • But beyond the crass remarks about Read, experts say less explosive messages about Proctor's early opinions of the investigation could be damning.
    Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Proposition 12 is the colloquial term for the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative.
    Alan Wooten, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
  • The strawberry moon is the colloquial name for June's full moon, a term originating from Native American tribes who marked the time when wild strawberries reached peak ripeness.
    Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • O’Neal credits the playgrounds of his childhood with giving him instincts on the court and helping instill the resilience to endure what felt like an ignoble start to his career.
    Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • The janky but oddly addictive Friday the 13th: The Game goes offline for good at the end of the year — an ignoble but perhaps inevitable fate for an interactive slasher that’s been plagued by problems since its rocky launch in 2017.
    A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • And even if that feels rude by the standards of today, people were forced to answer her questions and answer to the things that the public wanted to know.
    Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 23 June 2025
  • There are so many things that can be off or what if just the woman walks in and just is not attracted to the guy or the man is rude to the waiter.
    Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Central to the book is the titular premise, which subsequently entered the vernacular.
    Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
  • Those terms include a bunch of debuts, some of which are surprising, and a lot of entertaining vernacular.
    Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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