indecent

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈdē-sᵊnt How to pronounce indecent (audio)
Definition of indecentnext
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society paintings of nude figures are artistic, not indecent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 indecent After the initial accusation, the number of women accusing Watson of indecent acts during massage therapy appointments grew to 24. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Morris pled guilty last year to charges of indecent conduct with a child and spent 6 months in an Oklahoma jail before being released in March to serve the remainder of his 10-year sentence on probation. — Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 State Farm Arena policy prohibits clothing displaying explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterizations, while the NBA Fan Code of Conduct prohibits obscene or indecent messages on clothing. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 In the realms of art, literature, film, and television, words and images that would once have been considered indecent, offensive, or immoral are now commonplace, especially in the West. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indecent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indecent
  1. obscene
  2. pornographic
  3. vulgar
  4. foul
  5. nasty
Adjective
  • Last year, after signing a $132 million contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers following a trade, he was docked another $26,000 for fighting and making an obscene gesture.
    — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • There was a dog’s leg that had been sewn on near a man’s crotch in a way that seemed like an obscene visual pun.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • Authorities say the girl was subsequently subjected to threats, emotional blackmail, surveillance and physical violence and forced to produce pornographic material and participate in online webcam sessions.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The sheriff’s office said Ahlers had hundreds, and possibly thousands, of pornographic photos and videos of children on his hard drive.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of pornographic
Adjective
  • Decide for yourself whether that’s a bold indicator of English football’s superiority over the rest of the world, or a revolting symbol of the bloated and vulgar behemoth that the game has become.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • However, recent scholarship posits that the structure was used as ordinary (rather than punitive) housing, and that the vulgar decor was in fact a distinguishing characteristic of the epoch.
    — Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of vulgar
Adjective
  • No one, in my opinion, comes close to this selfish, foul-mouthed and stupid showman.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • There is no such statement in relation to foul tackles, but officials are expected to award a free kick if the first contact is outside the box, and a penalty if that contact is inside.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of foul
Adjective
  • Those tempers were not helped by the nasty collision between Guehi and Veiga just before the break, as the Englishman clattered into the midfielder in attempt to head the ball away.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • His nasty spirit comes unstuck from the grave when Antonia, the brown-haired Millennial witch, works a wonky raise-the-dead spell directed at her late great aunt.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of nasty

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indecent
indecently
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Cite this Entry

“Indecent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indecent. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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