bawdiness 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bawdinessnext
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene the bawdiness of the song makes it inappropriate for children

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bawdy

2 of 2

adjective

ˈbȯ-dē How to pronounce bawdy (audio)
1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society a bawdy comment about someone you work with could get you fired

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in suggestive
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent a bawdy limerick that mischievous storytellers love to recite

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bawdiness
Noun
Despite the heavy central theme of chronic illness, there’s a delicious bawdiness to Will There Ever Be Another You, a vulgar juvenilia evoking graffiti-tag genitals or the ding dong ditch scene from Billy Madison. — Eric Olson september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
With the candy-floss hair and knock-‘em-out curves, Dolly Parton has made a living off her bawdy, larger-than-life image. — Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 What started as an idea for a variety show about her life in late 2017 became a bawdy, self-deprecating song-and-dance extravaganza following her arrest that Christmas Eve. — Luisa Opalesky, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bawdiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawdiness
  1. grossness
  2. vulgarity
  3. suggestiveness
  4. crudeness
  5. ribaldry
  6. obscenity
  7. coarseness
  8. lewdness
Noun
  • But Paddy’s isn’t Sudz, and the Gang’s efforts to soft-pedal their antics to be more in line with those mainstream bars devolved into typical Sunny-style hostility and off-putting grossness.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
  • All your Dad has to do is fill it and drink—the microfilter membrane will do the rest by removing chlorine odors, dirt, bacteria, and any other grossness floating around in there.
    — Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
Definition of grossness
Noun
  • Over the last 15 years, Loveless has gained acclaim for their ability to turn vulgarities into poetry and twist impossibly low romantic standards into dire punchlines.
    — Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Lower courts upheld the ban, finding the veiled vulgarity of the phrase allows schools to ban it.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of vulgarity
Noun
  • The Averys also lack the deep, metaphysical suggestiveness of the Gottliebs.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The bucket quickly went viral for its not-safe-for-work suggestiveness.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of suggestiveness
Noun
  • There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.
    — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of crudeness
Noun
  • Finding liberty in punk artistry, Dury updated the tradition of British music-hall ribaldry and rude folk humor.
    — Armond White, National Review, 3 Aug. 2022
  • The young woman disappeared in the ribaldry, everyone smelling of perfume and drowning one another out in their hysterical good time.
    — David Rabe, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2020
Definition of ribaldry
Noun
  • The examination showed that Parker and Smith had exchanged dozens of texts, which include obscenities and insults, in the days before Parker's disappearance.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • After most of the sellout crowd filed out Wednesday, one solitary Sox fan stood at his seat under the press box, shouting obscenities about the Guardians and the city of Cleveland.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscenity
Noun
  • Most denim blends using hemp only include 20 or 30 percent of the fiber due to its coarseness.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But many seemingly urbane texts also benefited from the intellectual and moral coarseness of their times.
    — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of coarseness
Noun
  • The student was deported in July after being arrested in Arlington for public lewdness and evading police.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Kelley pleaded guilty to both the remaining charges of public lewdness and obstructing government operations, according to local news outlet WSFA.
    — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of lewdness

Phrases Containing bawdiness

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bawd
bawdiness
bawdries
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Cite this Entry

“Bawdiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawdiness. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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