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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 The negro cloth was often coarse, durable fabric given to slaves to makeshift clothing out of. Cierra Black, Essence, 9 July 2025 Simply sprinkle coarse salt over the surface of the cutting board and use the lemon half to scrub it in. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 July 2025 Covering the soil with a ½ inch of coarse sand or fine gravel can also discourage egg laying. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 July 2025 The attachment comes with four ice molds, an ice cup, and two different shaving blades (fine and coarse) that attach to the cup. Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for coarse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coarse
Adjective
  • Her choice to respond by telling me to 'shut the f*** up' and to 'calm my p*****' was vulgar, dismissive and escalated the issue entirely.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
  • As deadly wildfires raged across Southern California in January, a Los Angeles city official lamented to the city council and others how they were forced to listen to hateful, vulgar language from some members of the public.
    BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • To authenticate Trump's note and the obscene drawing that accompanied it, Journal reporters claim to have seen the album and talked to people knowledgeable about it.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For most of his first 10 songs, Costello’s singing was ragged and hoarse.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
  • Screamed himself hoarse and still tried calling for his brother.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • This plant is recognizable by its characteristic arrangement of leaves growing in groups of three with edges that vary from smooth to jagged.
    Christopher P. Holstege, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Beads of sweat dripped in jagged lines from Brandis Rogers’ temples and the nape of her neck.
    Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This implies a poor Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 52.5% (vs. 19.4% for S&P 500).
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The general manager, making a rare road trip, told reporters that his presence had more to do with his scheduling availability than the Yankees’ third-place standing or their poor play over the past two-plus months.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The 17-mile loop road through Monument Valley is unpaved, rutted and sandy.
    Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The teaser poster for Fallout Season 2 was published exclusively by IGN on Friday, which shows silhouettes of The Ghoul, Lucy, Maximus and the canine Dogmeat walking in the sandy, deserted environs of the former Las Vegas, now called New Vegas.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The idea that women should lose the right to vote is shaping up to be more than a crass punchline or a dystopian viewpoint, but one that Pete Hegseth, a member of the president’s cabinet, appears to agree with.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 12 Aug. 2025
  • To achieve this encyclopedic scope, Joyce opened every door between the divine thought of Thomas Aquinas and crass Dublin newspaper ads.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The central quartet of friends have a supportive connection underneath all their hormones and egos — Elba proves a standout as the gruff but warm defacto leader — that makes their bloody and sexed-up misadventures oddly wholesome.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Dougal MacKenzie loves a good prank — and so do the actors who play the gruff Highland Scot.
    Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 25 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Coarse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coarse. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.

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