1
as in pornographic
dealing in or with explicitly sexual material
for his comedy-club performances the stand-up comic's routines are definitely X-rated
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
the jerk should have known better than to tell an X-rated joke at a company function
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of X-rated
For the first seven years of the rating system (1969-1975), nearly half of the top films (33 of 70) were R- or X-rated.
—
Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 26 July 2024
What audiences see are silhouettes engaged in a shadow play of entwined hands and arched backs, sensual but not X-rated.
—Rebecca Ritzel, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Granted, none of these are X-rated, but one of my concerns is that the intensity of this online relationship has grown quite exponentially in a very short time and could very well lead to actual X-rated.
—Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024
Keep the red boost light on with your right foot and the Riviera will eventually peak out at 105 mph, although the speedometer is X-rated above 85.
—Don Sherman, Car and Driver, 8 Mar. 2023
Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 26 July 2024
What audiences see are silhouettes engaged in a shadow play of entwined hands and arched backs, sensual but not X-rated.
—Rebecca Ritzel, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Granted, none of these are X-rated, but one of my concerns is that the intensity of this online relationship has grown quite exponentially in a very short time and could very well lead to actual X-rated.
—Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024
Keep the red boost light on with your right foot and the Riviera will eventually peak out at 105 mph, although the speedometer is X-rated above 85.
—Don Sherman, Car and Driver, 8 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for X-rated
Adjective
-
Investigators said the pornographic material heightened concerns about the risks posed to federal systems.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Pete alleges Cooper also promoted a deepfake pornographic video of her.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The couple quickly began receiving death threats and obscene phone calls.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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Banners or signs may not be commercial in nature or obscene, or cause any disturbance to other fans.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Polar Bear Encounters Before and After Regulations On Ocean Explorer, guests are quietly watching a sub-adult female from the two outer decks on the bow of the ship, which the captain is keeping 500 meters away from the bear.—
Cassidy Randall,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Why 'Shrinking' Is a Parents-Only Watch The themes, relationships, and conversations in this show are primarily adult in nature.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Gilliam is not contesting states' rights to ban profane, sexualized or vulgar plates.—
Angele Latham,
The Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Two Beal City high schoolers received thousands of vulgar text messages from an unknown sender for months.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Going through the photos, folks will notice the colorful rooms, ample-sized bathrooms (with small showers) and an erotic maze.—
TJ Macias
September 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The evening included readings of erotic poetry by James Massiah and Adult Entertainment, sensual cocktails canapés by Heal Goblin, as well as beers and cans of water for those who couldn’t get into the crowded venue that poured out onto the street.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“X-rated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/X-rated. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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