as in vulgarity
the quality or state of being obscene
the bawdiness of the song makes it inappropriate for children
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bawdiness
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 May 2025
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson established themselves as something of a 21st century Abbott & Costello (or, at the very least, Cheech & Chong) with this bawdy 2005 smash directed and co-written by David Dobkin.
—Jason Bailey, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
What follows is an alternately hilarious, bawdy, and sad attempt to solve the former problem before the latter befalls her.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
There are weird, humiliating games, bawdy speeches, bursts of boozy laughter, and a punitive spirit of newlywed hazing.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bawdiness
Adjective
Lawrence Lamont’s bawdy buddy comedy One of Them Days—in which Keke Palmer and SZA play best friends who spend a crazy day trying to scrape together $1500 in rent money—opened in January and stayed in theaters for more than two months before shifting to Netflix in early April.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 May 2025
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson established themselves as something of a 21st century Abbott & Costello (or, at the very least, Cheech & Chong) with this bawdy 2005 smash directed and co-written by David Dobkin.
—Jason Bailey, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
What follows is an alternately hilarious, bawdy, and sad attempt to solve the former problem before the latter befalls her.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
There are weird, humiliating games, bawdy speeches, bursts of boozy laughter, and a punitive spirit of newlywed hazing.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bawdiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawdiness
Noun
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Robert Rhoads, Oakland Park Politicians and vulgarities Your front-page article on the use of expletives by U.S.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 July 2025
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During the presentation by PMM Chesterton, Kowalski was sharply critical and at one juncture used the vulgarity for bull waste.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.—
Sharon Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
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Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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Severe or repeated vomiting and sudden onset chest pain are two parts of what’s called the Mackler Triad, the trio of signs suggestive of Boerhaave syndrome.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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According to the complaint, Perry did not take no for an answer, following up with suggestive text messages and other comments.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Nan’s rebellion was never loud or vulgar but always quietly confident and effortlessly elegant.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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The comics were often dismissed as a vulgar form, but the bad joke of our superhero-movie culture is that most of it is a vulgarization of the comics.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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But after its three-year hiatus, the food chain is re-releasing the sandwich, now with three versions to choose from—original, spicy and grilled.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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Ginger Beer: As ever, the spicier the ginger beer, the better.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Much of the dialogue is hilariously ribald, especially in a locker room scene in which the two nude men share a tender familial embrace after comparing penises.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 June 2023
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The couple became a symbol of marital stability in the freewheeling rock world, even as Charlie drummed for a band that was the most famously ribald band in music history.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
19 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Her somewhat implausible problem is that her bad feelings—her irritation, her boredom—never register as such because of her beauty, her wealth, and her pedigree; so great is her beauty that even her nastiest moods feel like a sunny glow to others.—
Claire Jarvis,
New Yorker,
8 July 2025
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But use kind humor, not nasty or deprecating humor.—
Davia Temin,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Over-Nite Sensation is a triumph: a concentrated digest from perhaps the most popular stretch of his career, and a freeze-frame of his compositional flowering and ingenious lyrical ribaldry.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
The Atlantic,
27 Nov. 2023
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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
Cite this Entry
“Bawdiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawdiness. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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