as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene
the lewdness of the material on that website makes it inappropriate for children
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Recent Examples of lewdness
This is a distinct category from the Mile-High Clubbers, whose lewdness is much more inappropriate.
—
Christopher Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
Claud has two convictions for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age and one conviction for open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Christopher Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
Claud has two convictions for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age and one conviction for open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lewdness
Noun
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If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
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The characters’ propensity for ugly faces, silliness and a bit of grossness too, stems from the portrayals of girlhood and young womanhood that appeal to them.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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It is hoped that political ad campaigns would aim to lessen the meanness and divisiveness and vulgarity that have damaged our democracy.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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Former President Richard Nixon proved himself no slouch in the vulgarity department after reaching the White House in 1969.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Video shows the women squeezing through the window and screaming obscenities at the people inside, while tossing food, beverages and packaging.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Parents should be prepared to turn the channel or cover their children’s eyes and ears so they are not exposed to these obscenities.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The other funnymen of the time—Milton Berle with his lewd suggestiveness, Jackie Gleason with his baleful roar—did the same shtick over and over.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Marie is disciplined and principled, while her rebellious daughter prides herself on breaking the rules and reveling in lasciviousness.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Essence,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The indecency of this extraordinary line of interrogation says more about the intrusive thoughts of Carlson and Peck than about Buttigieg.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
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Agencies can also pursue suspensions for public indecency.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The term plant texture refers to the fineness or coarseness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness of a particular plant.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
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An alkaline compound, baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lewdness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lewdness. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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