Synonyms of coarse

coarse

adjective

ˈkȯrs 

1

as in grained

made up of large particles

coarse rock salt was sprinkled on the icy walkway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grained
• sandy
• granular
• stony
• granulated
• grainy
• rocky
• cracked
• pebbly
• unfiltered
• gravelly
• coarse-grained
• unrefined
• earthy
• gritty
• lumpy
• mealy
• kibbled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fine
• dusty
• powdery
• ultrafine
• smooth
• superfine
• velvety
• buttery
• floury
• refined
• filtered
• ground
• reduced
• comminuted
• milled
• close-grained
• levigated
• pulverized
• micronized
• triturated
• mulled
• pestled

2

as in vulgar

lacking in refinement or good taste

the hockey player's coarse manners turned his date off completely

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vulgar
• crass
• rude
• crude
• common
• rough
• gross
• rugged
• uncouth
• unrefined
• unpolished
• clumsy
• uncultured
• low
• tasteless
• raffish
• uncultivated
• lowbrow
• rough-hewn
• insensible
• ill-bred
• illiberal
• roughneck
• boorish
• lowbred
• rustic
• incult
• ungentlemanly
• loutish
• clownish
• churlish
• cloddish
• insensitive
• lumpish
• unsophisticated
• thoughtless
• indelicate
• lubberly
• oafish
• inconsiderate
• uncivilized
• countrified
• provincial
• inelegant
• tacky
• barbaric
• barbarous
• unmannered
• unmannerly
• graceless
• mannerless
• animallike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smooth
• civilized
• polished
• cultured
• refined
• genteel
• tasteful
• cultivated
• aristocratic
• elegant
• sensitive
• graceful
• patrician
• courtly
• well-bred
• restrained
• ultrarefined
• sophisticated
• thoughtful
• gracious
• considerate
• urbane
• citified

3

as in obscene

depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society

offended by the coarse humor at the celebrity roast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vulgar
• obscene
• pornographic
• nasty
• dirty
• foul
• filthy
• gross
• crude
• blue
• suggestive
• unacceptable
• unpleasant
• indecent
• obnoxious
• offensive
• naughty
• bawdy
• impure
• ribald
• lascivious
• raunchy
• lewd
• disgusting
• unprintable
• profane
• undesirable
• smutty
• trashy
• abusive
• unwanted
• locker-room
• broad
• stag
• coarse-grained
• wanton
• soft
• gutter
• infamous
• wicked
• porny
• X-rated
• salty
• low
• earthy
• salacious
• objectionable
• indelicate
• indecorous
• unbecoming
• off
• perverted
• depraved
• repulsive
• scatological
• racy
• loathsome
• kinky
• gamy
• revolting
• barnyard
• immodest
• unwelcome
• repugnant
• abhorrent
• perverse
• repellent
• exceptionable
• distasteful
• risqué
• off-color
• louche
• reprehensible
• scurrilous
• censurable
• atrocious
• hard-core
• blameworthy
• blamable
• debasing
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wholesome
• clean
• decent
• proper
• correct
• puritanical
• prim
• polite
• Victorian
• prudish
• staid
• respectable
• genteel
• nice
• acceptable
• decorous
• appropriate
• desirable
• innocuous
• suitable
• pleasant
• priggish
• agreeable
• inoffensive
• nonobscene
• pure
• welcome
• straitlaced
• perfect
• meet
• G-rated
• pleasing
• becoming
• seemly
• fit
• immaculate
• spotless
• virginal
• approved
• endorsed
• sanctioned

4

as in hoarse

harsh and dry in sound

a coarse laugh

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hoarse
• gruff
• husky
• gravelly
• rusty
• gravel
• scratchy
• raspy
• grating
• throaty
• rasping
• abrasive
• croaky
• rough
• choked
• croaking
• guttural
• grinding
• strained
• scraping
• scratching
• strangled
• raucous
• growling
• jarring
• strident
• discordant
• cacophonous
• cracked
• dissonant
• unmusical
• growly
• inharmonious
• unmelodious
• screeching
• squawking
• cawing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liquid
• sweet
• gentle
• golden
• smooth
• mellow
• soft
• soothing
• mellifluous
• tender
• silken
• velvety
• satiny
• musical
• mellifluent
• gliding
• melodic
• melodious
• lyrical
• lyric
• euphonious

5

as in jagged

not having a level or smooth surface

the coarse surface of the sandpaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jagged
• uneven
• rough
• rugged
• broken
• ragged
• irregular
• wavy
• lumpy
• pebbly
• roughened
• bumpy
• scraggy
• harsh
• unbalanced
• lopsided
• inexact
• rutted
• undulating
• undulatory
• pitted
• unaligned
• knobby
• scratchy
• nubby
• nonuniform
• scraggly
• knurled
• rutty
• pocked
• nubbly
• sandpapery
• knobbly
• burred
• knurly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smooth
• flat
• uniform
• level
• regular
• even
• exact
• true
• vertical
• horizontal
• aligned
• plane
• straight
• tabular
• plumb
• flush

6

as in poor

of low quality

coarse imitations of quality merchandise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• poor
• cheap
• terrible
• inferior
• rotten
• bad
• common
• worthless
• low-grade
• useless
• wretched
• mediocre
• shoddy
• miserable
• rubbishy
• bum
• trashy
• low-rent
• cheesy
• junky
• crappy
• lousy
• sleazy
• execrable
• second-rate
• counterfeit
• fake
• trumpery
• cheapjack
• gimcrack
• cut-rate
• valueless
• indifferent
• schlock
• bargain-basement
• showy
• tawdry
• lackluster
• gaudy
• garish
• meretricious
• glitzy
• shabby
• el cheapo
• tacky
• flashy
• seedy
• ostentatious
• second-class
• kitschy
• swank
• splashy
• kitsch
• sham
• phony
• brummagem
• ultracheap
• supercheap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fine
• excellent
• good
• superior
• high-grade
• first-class
• handsome
• elegant
• tasteful
• first-rate
• top-notch
• polished
• refined
• handcrafted

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

Recent Examples of coarse

Its ceramic blades easily tackle coarse hair and its waterproof design makes in-shower shaves a breeze. — Sara Coughlin, Allure, 5 July 2026

Scabies, ringworm, rashes from numerous unknown sources and unwashed skin was wrapped in clothing of stiff linen, smelly woolens or coarse calico. — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

The varying sizes of these tools suggest threads of different thicknesses, and that indicates both finer and coarser textiles, and likely the use of a range of raw materials. — Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Scatter butter over top and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 pulses. — ABC News, 29 June 2026