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noun

gross

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gross different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gross are coarse, obscene, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When can coarse be used instead of gross?

The synonyms coarse and gross are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

Where would obscene be a reasonable alternative to gross?

Although the words obscene and gross have much in common, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

When could ribald be used to replace gross?

The meanings of ribald and gross 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 is it sensible to use vulgar instead of gross?

While in some cases nearly identical to gross, 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 gross
Adjective
Total domestic gross has a shot at hitting $160 million through its first 10 days in theaters, ranking it as the seventh-highest-grossing North American release of the year. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 21 June 2025 With the early closing notice, and bumpy grosses throughout its run, the show will likely exit Broadway without recouping. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Noun
The movie is a box office bomb, grossing $21.3 million against its $44 million budget. Zach Dennis july 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2025 Audiences showed up for the trio of films, which grossed several billion dollars in total at the box office—but each entry was progressively more reviled by critics. David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for gross
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gross
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 3 July 2025
  • The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.
    Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • Remember, most healthy plant roots should be plump and white in color.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025
  • Are your tomato vines covered in plump green fruits that just won't turn red?
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • 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
Adjective
  • Prejudice has long disconnected Black and Latino communities — but the blatant dismissal of ICE raids as a Latino issue is off base.
    Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
  • However, if the church becomes tainted with blatant partisan politics, the church will look like the world with polarizing division.
    Stephen Mitchell, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Danny DeVito, who plays the hilarious and disgusting Frank Reynolds on Always Sunny, used to be married to a fellow comedy legend, Rhea Perlman.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 9 July 2025
  • July 7, 2025 Homa included another message from a fan that is far too disgusting to even reiterate.
    Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • In total, Mazda believes the setup in the CX-5 follows its original philosophy to put safety first.
    Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • More than one in five Floridians — nearly 5 million in total — are 65 or older.
    Michelle Flowers, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Tens of billions of dollars of tariff revenue are coming into the United States every month.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
  • In the past 10 years (since landmark publications like Deep & Cross Networks and Tensorflow by Google), big tech companies have leveraged these models to earn billions of dollars in revenue.
    Harvey Hu, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • His start to life at Ferrari hasn't netted a podium Grand Prix finish yet, but Hamilton remains committed and driven to win his eighth world title at the legendary team.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • In addition to Adams and potentially Cuomo, Sliwa — who netted nearly 30% of the vote in the 2021 mayoral election — is the Republican candidate in the November race.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gross.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gross. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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