Synonyms of gross

gross 1 of 3

adjective

ˈgrōs 

1

as in obscene

depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society

he was thrown out of class for making a gross gesture

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• foul
• nasty
• dirty
• filthy
• unacceptable
• crude
• disgusting
• suggestive
• unpleasant
• blue
• indecent
• offensive
• coarse
• obnoxious
• naughty
• undesirable
• lascivious
• raunchy
• trashy
• lewd
• unwanted
• impure
• smutty
• abusive
• profane
• bawdy
• unprintable
• locker-room
• ribald
• wanton
• gutter
• broad
• stag
• porny
• infamous
• wicked
• repulsive
• X-rated
• revolting
• perverted
• low
• scatological
• soft
• salacious
• indelicate
• depraved
• repugnant
• off
• indecorous
• loathsome
• salty
• objectionable
• unbecoming
• unwelcome
• earthy
• abhorrent
• immodest
• gamy
• perverse
• coarse-grained
• racy
• kinky
• repellent
• barnyard
• distasteful
• risqué
• reprehensible
• atrocious
• exceptionable
• off-color
• censurable
• scurrilous
• blameworthy
• louche
• blamable
• debasing
• hard-core
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• wholesome
• decent
• correct
• proper
• puritanical
• prudish
• acceptable
• respectable
• nice
• polite
• Victorian
• innocuous
• prim
• appropriate
• staid
• desirable
• decorous
• pleasant
• genteel
• inoffensive
• nonobscene
• priggish
• pure
• suitable
• agreeable
• G-rated
• welcome
• perfect
• meet
• pleasing
• becoming
• straitlaced
• seemly
• immaculate
• fit
• spotless
• virginal
• approved
• sanctioned
• endorsed

2

as in plump

having an excess of body fat

a very gross cat trying to squeeze through a small opening in the fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plump
• fat
• full
• round
• fleshy
• thick
• obese
• overweight
• corpulent
• heavy
• blubbery
• chubby
• pudgy
• husky
• stout
• ripe
• lardy
• rotund
• tubby
• podgy
• replete
• portly
• soft
• roly-poly
• bulky
• plumpish
• dumpy
• beefy
• squat
• hefty
• flabby
• chunky
• stocky
• weighty
• thickset
• burly
• stubby
• brawny
• heavyset
• ample
• paunchy
• potbellied
• hippy
• buxom
• corn-fed
• zaftig
• endomorphic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• thin
• lean
• angular
• skinny
• bony
• slender
• spare
• skeletal
• gaunt
• slim
• slight
• lanky
• puny
• wasted
• sinewy
• haggard
• lank
• emaciated
• rawboned
• pinched
• cadaverous
• scrawny
• stringy
• weedy
• scraggy
• spindly
• reedy
• waspish
• svelte
• rangy
• willowy
• twiggy
• anorexic
• sylphlike
• spindling
• ectomorphic

3

as in crass

lacking in refinement or good taste

she haughtily refused to mix with what she called "the gross masses who are unappreciative of fine art"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crass
• vulgar
• rude
• crude
• common
• coarse
• clumsy
• rough
• uncouth
• low
• lowbrow
• tasteless
• uncultured
• unpolished
• unrefined
• uncultivated
• rugged
• raffish
• insensible
• rough-hewn
• illiberal
• incult
• ill-bred
• lowbred
• ungentlemanly
• clownish
• boorish
• roughneck
• indelicate
• unsophisticated
• thoughtless
• insensitive
• lumpish
• churlish
• rustic
• loutish
• inconsiderate
• cloddish
• oafish
• tacky
• lubberly
• provincial
• uncivilized
• inelegant
• barbaric
• barbarous
• countrified
• graceless
• unmannerly
• unmannered
• mannerless
• animallike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smooth
• civilized
• tasteful
• polished
• cultured
• refined
• genteel
• aristocratic
• cultivated
• sensitive
• elegant
• graceful
• restrained
• patrician
• well-bred
• courtly
• ultrarefined
• gracious
• sophisticated
• thoughtful
• considerate
• urbane
• citified

4

as in blatant

very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad

a gross mistake that some proofreader should have caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blatant
• obvious
• glaring
• egregious
• flagrant
• conspicuous
• striking
• pronounced
• terrible
• patent
• outstanding
• sheer
• noticeable
• distinct
• rank
• dramatic
• clear
• remarkable
• marked
• notable
• salient
• utter
• monstrous
• outright
• downright
• plain
• showy
• shocking
• evident
• prominent
• emphatic
• absolute
• shameful
• outrageous
• heinous
• abominable
• visible
• detectable
• awful
• discernible
• deplorable
• perceptible
• observable
• atrocious
• stark
• out-and-out
• splashy
• arrant
• eye-catching
• execrable
• preposterous
• arresting
• lousy
• wretched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inconspicuous
• imperceptible
• small
• insignificant
• unobtrusive
• trivial
• slight
• trifling
• inconsequential
• inconsiderable
• unnoticeable
• invisible
• hidden
• concealed

5

as in disgusting

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

the little boy insisted that worms are gross

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disgusting
• ugly
• horrible
• sickening
• awful
• hideous
• shocking
• obscene
• obnoxious
• offensive
• dreadful
• nasty
• unpleasant
• repulsive
• evil
• revolting
• appalling
• repugnant
• abominable
• gruesome
• loathsome
• horrid
• scandalous
• odious
• terrible
• abhorrent
• nauseating
• horrendous
• horrific
• repellent
• noxious
• distasteful
• foul
• nauseous
• rancid
• disturbing
• undesirable
• noisome
• fulsome
• vile
• unwanted
• monstrous
• objectionable
• hateful
• horrifying
• detestable
• disagreeable
• miserable
• grim
• unhealthy
• unwholesome
• contemptible
• heinous
• despicable
• sick
• unspeakable
• brackish
• ghastly
• grisly
• atrocious
• unwelcome
• macabre
• nightmarish
• exceptionable
• unsavory
• frightful
• sickly
• lurid
• execrable
• lousy
• uncivilized
• hard
• unholy
• ungodly
• dislikable
• barbarous
• upsetting
• sickish
• distressing
• unchristian
• off-putting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• acceptable
• attractive
• sweet
• desirable
• delicious
• inoffensive
• pleasant
• delightful
• appealing
• nice
• gratifying
• satisfying
• agreeable
• heavenly
• alluring
• dreamy
• welcome
• enjoyable
• delectable
• congenial
• palatable
• pleasurable
• luscious
• pleasing
• likable
• savory
• darling
• felicitous
• inviting
• unobjectionable
• blessed
• dulcet
• healthy
• unexceptionable
• wholesome
• healthful
• salutary
• salubrious
• delightsome
• restorative

gross

2 of 3

noun

1

as in total

Related Words

• total
• amount
• whole
• sum
• score
• count
• census
• recount
• tally
• tale

2

as in revenue

Related Words

• revenue
• receipts
• income
• profit
• earnings
• payoff
• net
• proceeds
• gain
• return
• winnings
• bag
• spoils
• booty
• appropriation
• yield
• swag
• plunder
• haul
• loot
• catch
• collection
• bounty
• take

Dissimilar Words

• loss
• deduction
• subtraction

gross

3 of 3

verb

as in to net

Related Words

• net
• realize
• gain
• pull down
• obtain
• attain
• capture
• earn
• reap
• draw
• acquire
• win
• achieve
• bring in
• land
• procure
• garner
• come by
• accomplish
• secure
• carry
• knock down
• accumulate
• clear
• make
• score
• bag
• get
• amass
• notch (up)
• occupy
• catch
• rack up
• take over
• pick up
• annex
• regain
• recapture
• remake
• reattain
• reacquire

Dissimilar Words

• lose
• pay
• forfeit
• give
• grant
• yield
• accord
• give up
• surrender
• relinquish
• hand over
• part (with)

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

Recent Examples of gross

Adjective

The early years are mainly focused on gross and fine motor skill development. — Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 8 Sep. 2026

Cameron Garcia was sentenced Friday, nearly two months after a jury convicted him of five counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and carjacking, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

The final gross firmly cements its status as the highest grossing Broadway show in the history of Lincoln Center Theater. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026

Her Broadway debut earlier this year was initially scheduled for six weeks but ultimately extended to three months, during which the production achieved its highest weekly box-office gross in its 29-year history. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

That film, of course, is Bohemian Rhapsody, which currently holds the all-time box office record as the highest grossing music biopic of all time with a worldwide box office tally of $911 million. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

The grocer didn’t respond to a request for comment, but a retail property expert familiar with store leases estimated that Erewhon would need to gross more than $1 million per week to cover the Culver City rent disclosed in the recent lawsuit. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

Phrases Containing gross

• gross out