Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective crass contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of crass are dense, dull, dumb, and stupid. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

When could dense be used to replace crass?

While in some cases nearly identical to crass, dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

In what contexts can dull take the place of crass?

While the synonyms dull and crass are close in meaning, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

When would dumb be a good substitute for crass?

The synonyms dumb and crass are sometimes interchangeable, but dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

When can stupid be used instead of crass?

The words stupid and crass are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm
stupid with drink

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 crass In most places, private companies can fire employees for any reason — and that includes crass social media posts, said Jeffrey Hirsch, a professor of labor and employment law at the University of North Carolina. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025 Edwards, along with protesting comrade Tom Hopper (Raife Hastings) and crass CIA contractor Jules Landry (Luke Hemsworth) join a secret CIA unit fighting terrorism in Europe. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025 Liverpool fans know how hurtful crass chants can be. Simon Hughes, New York Times, 19 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, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crass
Adjective
  • 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
  • One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
    Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For three long weeks that began to seem rude or impertinent, as if the Prize hadn’t been announced, as if a king and queen weren’t waiting for his answer, Dylan said nothing about the award.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • According to Dakota, the sisters once had a tense encounter with a rude man that ended with the Complete Unknown star's drink all over him.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the reasons why gas prices are low is because crude oil prices are low.
    Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • This means exposing the shoulders, showing too much leg above the knees, or wearing clothing with crude or inappropriate imagery.
    Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Start with turbinado sugar, which has a coarse texture and a caramel-like flavor that complements coffee beautifully.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Add cold butter; pulse just until mixture resembles coarse meal (some pea-size pieces are fine), 12 to 15 pulses.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That cost-cutting measure, which is common in other long-running shows, continued for the drama's 2025-26 season.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Both areas had dinosaurs in common, such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Torosaurus.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Authorities say Singh was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after plowing his big rig into slow-moving traffic on the I-10 Freeway in San Bernardino County.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • For example, pregnant women with a household size of one have a gross monthly limit of about $2,000 per month, increasing by about $715 a month per additional household member.
    Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crass. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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