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 To celebrate the unearned good fortune of those privileges felt as crass in its way as praising the life-changing effects of a winning lottery ticket. Literary Hub, 16 June 2025 Brandi Glanville & Lisa Vanderpump (RHOBH) Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo: Kelsey McNeal/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Lisa and Brandi were an odd fit from the start: Brandi, the crass newbie; Lisa Vanderpump, the grande dame of Beverly Hills. Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 11 June 2025 Most Popular Most Popular Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen’s crisis Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen's crisis Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited? Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 May 2025 But beyond the crass remarks about Read, experts say less explosive messages about Proctor's early opinions of the investigation could be damning. Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for crass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crass
Adjective
  • By The Athletic’s count, over nine innings during the Yankees’ 6-2 win over the Mets, those fans aimed the same vulgar chant at Soto a whopping 38 times.
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Because at the time, Madonna was seen as this controversial and sort of vulgar character.
    Terry Gross, NPR, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some posed for photos, others made rude gestures, and many simply stared.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 27 July 2025
  • The movie’s off-color humor wouldn’t fly today, but its rebellious spirit remains hilariously defiant — a refreshingly rude retort to the niceties of family films and their cringey feel-good messages.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • The essence of the review is evaluation, which of course doesn’t imply the crude simplicity of a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
  • Oil prices have been soft this year, with West Texas Intermediate crude futures off about 9% per barrel, and Brent crude futures down 8%.
    Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • With Bill Murray killing as a preening champion, this coarse, dumb, hilarious film is primo Farrelly brothers during their golden age that, unfairly, got slept on at the time.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 25 July 2025
  • Gordon is not an especially confessional writer, but his voice, which at times stretches into a coarse falsetto, contains enormous amounts of emotion.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • While once plentiful, lake sturgeon are now far less common.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 31 July 2025
  • The clinic tests and treats people with TB, which is very common in other parts of the world.
    Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 31 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crass. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on crass

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