1
as in grained
made up of large particles
coarse rock salt was sprinkled on the icy walkway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
the hockey player's coarse manners turned his date off completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
a coarse laugh
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in jagged
not having a level or smooth surface
the coarse surface of the sandpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in poor
of low quality
coarse imitations of quality merchandise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene
the coarseness of the movie's humor makes it unsuitable for children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rudeness
the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste
there was a coarseness about her that really bothered her boyfriend's well-bred friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Jack Byram, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2025
The Corrale works on almost every hair style and texture, from curly and coarse to sleek and straight.
—Tim Chan, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
An alkaline compound, baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coarse
Adjective
Commerce market editor Kate McGregor uses hers daily at both the finest espresso settings and a more coarse grind for her Aeropress.
—Jack Byram, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2025
The Corrale works on almost every hair style and texture, from curly and coarse to sleek and straight.
—Tim Chan, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
There is plenty of coarseness in American arenas totally unrelated to MAGA or Trumpism, of course.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
An alkaline compound, baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coarse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coarse
Adjective
-
Who decides what’s decorous and what’s vulgar?—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The president has been targeting Jeffries online with offensive and vulgar memes since the pair first had an unsuccessful sit-down meeting in the Oval Office just before the shutdown.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Banners containing commercial, political or obscene material, or that block guest views.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Just another week in the world of Ball, who was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Monday for making an obscene gesture in the fourth quarter of the Hornets’ 144-117 loss to Miami.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
When a reporter reached her by phone a week later, her voice sounded hoarse.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Give Palestine your voice, and when your voice goes hoarse, hang your flags, wear your keffiyeh.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Rose now realizes the smeared, dark, jagged edges are an abstract human.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
All the shadows and jagged angles evoke German Expressionism, distorting Ronnie’s confrontation into something both surreal and terrifyingly recognizable.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Ministry of Environment blamed this year’s surge on a poor acorn harvest – which drove a similar spate of attacks in 2023.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rather, the slow start (by Ovechkin’s standards) to this season seemed due more to poor puck luck.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
He is charged with open and lewd grossness.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In fact, plenty of other things in your home surpass the toilet in terms of grossness.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But yes, Miss Manners agrees that his rudeness justifies your ignoring his comment.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
10 Oct. 2025
-
But Takaichi has taken the strongest stances, decrying the rudeness of foreign tourists and accusing them of abusing the famous deer in Nara.—
Arata Yamamoto,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The 46-year-old migrant stood on the sandy beach in flip-flops one morning watching a boat packed with other migrants leave without him.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Firefighters who rescued a dog that tumbled 40 feet off a sandy cliff over the ocean onto a ledge received plenty of rewards, California officials and news outlets reported.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coarse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coarse. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share