Definition of coarsenext
1
2
3
4
5
6

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 The coarser shades of red and orange, illuminated by the setting sun on the western portals, color the side of the basilica that depicts Christ’s Passion. Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 Hair loss is self-explanatory, while dryness results from damage to the outer layer of the cuticle, leading to moisture loss and hair that feels coarse and appears dull. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 June 2026 Use a coarse grinder wheel for drill bits with significant wear and tear, or a fine grinder bit for quick sharpening jobs. Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 5 June 2026 Shifts in androgen levels can shrink your scalp follicles, leading to finer hair on your scalp and coarser hair on your face. Brandi Jones, Health, 5 June 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
  • This isn’t about the vulgar prices now being charged to get into the building and Celebrity Row.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
  • But this original iteration of Call Her Daddy was vulgar, transgressive, and short-lived.
    Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • Friis Bach, who was then chairman of the Folketing’s secretive Foreign Policy Committee, was asked in early January to begin considering the obscene logistics of a mass evacuation of Greenland.
    Joshua Hunt, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026
  • The amount of money spent on election campaigns is absolutely obscene.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • During the debate, Joe Biden frequently lost his train of thought, stumbled over answers, and appeared hoarse, fueling concerns among voters and party leaders.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
  • Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Irregular, edges catch oil differently, crisping into jagged, craggly bits while softer interior pockets hold onto dressing, broth, or sauce—the kind of varied texture that makes each bite its own.
    Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
  • As pests crawl through it, its jagged edges scrape their exoskeletons, dehydrating and killing them.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.
    Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
  • Equating the Holocaust to Gaza is in extremely poor taste.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Celebrate the completion of your road trip with a victory ride on the roller coaster, or simply relax on the broad, sandy beach.
    Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026
  • The seemingly unconnected and largely overlooked disappearances of young women became the focus of true-crime documentaries, books and podcasts after police began discovering the victims’ skeletal remains in the sandy scrub along a coastal parkway.
    Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • With the games having kicked off, the sport has shown its ineffable power to supplant crass and capitalistic overreach.
    Emily Olsen, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • Boys and young men have always enjoyed the crassest of humor.
    Donie O'Sullivan, CNN Money, 6 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coarse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coarse. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on coarse

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster