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gross

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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
The total domestic box office gross hasn’t eclipsed $9 billion since. Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 Its worldwide gross was $262 million. Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
Worldwide, the movie grossed $77 million, and later more than $100 million in DVD — or more likely, VHS — sales. Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025 In 2005, the movie — Apatow’s directorial debut and Carell’s first starring role — grossed over $177 million at the box office. Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Real estate makes up nearly 23% of Hawaii’s gross state product (GSP), the fourth-highest percentage in the nation. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025 The Twits is not beautiful — and that’s kind of the point, since the story is about a gross, mean, and spiteful couple who pull all sorts of nasty pranks on each other and everyone else. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gross
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gross
Adjective
  • Beside one of those blandly obscene bidets.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But the show avoided an FCC probe as the West Coast delay was censored, and the East Coast broadcast aired after the 6am-10pm window during which obscene content is prohibited on broadcast TV and radio.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Healthy roots are plump and silvery, white, or green in color.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Ten years and innumerable pounds of corn later, Laws Whiskey House still uses the plump and sweet grain from Burlington.
    Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Each project presented at MIA is picked with a genuine desire for these works to come to the fore, not by crass commercial considerations.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Free speech covers the jokes, the satire, the parodies—even the dumb, crass, or offensive ones.
    Lizz Winstead, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity of Lithuania.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • These youth protesters oppose the Ruto government over living standards, often blatant government corruption, and its heavy hand toward demonstrators.
    Ian Bremmer, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That would probably be the most disgusting kind.
    Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Continue reading … 'DISGUSTING' – Jen Psaki jokes Usha Vance scared of her husband, ripped for 'disgusting' comments.
    , FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Anthony Orion Dalton, 17, was sentenced on October 8 to a total of 9 years in prison, with 4 years suspended, after he was found in possession of a firearm on campus in April, according to an October 9 press release from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • What To Know The Board of Elections shared that a total of 79,409 New Yorkers cast their ballots on the first day of early voting on Saturday, with particularly high voting numbers in the boroughs that Mamdani won in the primary election held on June 24.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Likewise, Halliburton’s net income plunged down to a barely profitable $18 million—including hefty impairment charges—from $571 million, although revenues only fell 2%.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The most recent edition of Deloitte’s Football Money League, ranking clubs by revenue for the 2023-24 season, was led by Real Madrid, but Barcelona (sixth) and Atletico Madrid (12th) were the only other Spanish clubs in the top 30.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Dominik Szoboszlai, who was asked to play deeper alongside Jones, capped a sensational display by firing home their fifth goal from 20 yards out after Cody Gakpo had netted for the third successive game.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Auto buyers typically choose a longer loan term to net lower monthly payments.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gross.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gross. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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