Definition of coarsenext
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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of coarse are gross, obscene, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When can gross be used instead of coarse?

The words gross and coarse can be used in similar contexts, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When could obscene be used to replace coarse?

While the synonyms obscene and coarse are close in meaning, 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 coarse?

The meanings of ribald and coarse largely overlap; however, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

When might vulgar be a better fit than coarse?

The words vulgar and coarse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

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 coarse Ten minutes later the jaguar was only a quarter of a mile away, responding to the call with a loud series of grunts, very deep and coarse. Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026 Serve the sandwiches with frozen French fries jazzed up with bits of parsley, coarse salt, black pepper, and parmesan shreds. Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026 Depending on the variety and where they're grown, commercial growers may cultivate different types of orchids in either orchid bark, which can come in finer or coarser textures, or sphagnum moss. Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 26 Feb. 2026 The base is familiar — creamy yolks mashed with mayonnaise and coarse mustard — but the magic is in the mix-ins and toppings. Laura McLively, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coarse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coarse
Adjective
  • The brand’s classic coats were joined by handsome bomber jackets in grained leather or suede, cocooning puffers and enveloping shearling jackets and stoles that were lined with contrasting napa for extra luxe.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • On Heavenly’s last record, released in 1996, their daydreamy idealism had become more vulgar and concrete, and the instrumental backing had adopted a Britpop punchiness to match; however, the album was released just after drummer Mathew Fletcher’s death, leading to Heavenly’s abrupt dissolution.
    Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
  • In 2024, another former WISN-AM radio host, Jay Weber, was suspended for two weeks after posting vulgar comments about Walz's then-17-year-old neurodivergent son, Gus.
    Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Davidson has Tourette's with Coprolalia, which involves involuntary outbursts of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks, according to the Tourette Association of America.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • His own voice sounds hoarse and nasty to him, the voice of a gloomy oracle.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Her voice was hoarse, her schedule packed.
    Karen Brooks Harper Austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Many of Iceland’s pools are immersed in nature, combining water therapy with dramatic landscapes of jagged mountains, waterfalls, rivers, and lava fields.
    Lauren Breedlove, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Two cars teetered at the jagged edge, their noses tipped skyward, almost frozen in the instant before a plunge.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • City officials say the long-term leases make buying Liberty Station a poor investment for any potential buyer other than Seligman.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Further, according to the paper, when supply tightens, richer nations outbid poorer ones for scarce shipments, exacerbating challenges for vulnerable economies.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Seychelles One of the most beautiful beaches in the world, this sandy strip is surrounded by lush palms and polished granite boulders.
    Melanie van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
  • This easy-care perennial thrives in dry, sandy soil.
    Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • In a not crass way, no matter what your vice of choice is, someone who enables that behavior, even just by being there, is a really relatable idea.
    Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The vigil can come to look like voyeurism, the human care made crass.
    Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Coarse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coarse. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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