Definition of crassnext

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 The service There’s nothing as crass as a check-in desk here. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 In fact, the very term anti-Semitism was popularized by Wilhelm Marr, a German nationalist who sought to distinguish his anti-Jewish ideology from the crass bigotry of the common folk by dressing his hate up in pseudoscientific terms. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026 But those efforts did their part to contribute to the overall sense of the Cannes Film Festival as the center of the moviegoing world for 11 days in May, somewhere where crass corporate product lived alongside uncompromising arthouse efforts in a broad-spectrum display of what constitutes cinema. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026 Directed by Nicolas Athane and Marco Nguyen, Jim Queen is a crass, profane, giddily stupid romp through a heap of stereotypes about gay life in Paris. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for crass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crass
Adjective
  • Lonnie is loud, obnoxious, and vulgar in ways that rankle traditional golfers.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
  • Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.
    Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • Only one guy, Timothy Piatkowski, a researcher involved with the Games, suggested that my question might be a little rude.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • It’s considered rude to answer one’s phone on public transport or in a restaurant, for example.
    Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • Stick the cuttings so the ends are about 3 inches deep in containers of potting soil or coarse vermiculite.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
  • Homemade brownies are topped with a rich, smooth cheesecake layer and baked with coarse crumbles of Oreo cookies.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • The movie can also be seen in more common digital formats for less.
    Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • Because the most common objection to the argument turns out to be the argument's best evidence.
    Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • Among them are efforts to impose a 50% tax on a private detention operator’s gross receipts from ICE and a requirement for local agencies to release records of 911 calls from private detention facilities.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • Police arrested a man Wednesday on suspicion of a felony hit-and-run resulting in death and gross vehicular manslaughter for allegedly running over a man who was trying to stop him from fleeing the site of a vehicle collision, authorities said.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crass. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on crass

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