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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of obscene are coarse, gross, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," 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 might coarse be a better fit than obscene?

While the synonyms coarse and obscene are close in meaning, coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When is gross a more appropriate choice than obscene?

The words gross and obscene can be used in similar contexts, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When would ribald be a good substitute for obscene?

The words ribald and obscene are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

In what contexts can vulgar take the place of obscene?

The synonyms vulgar and obscene are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 obscene The ex-data processor for the Boston Transportation Department was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of: rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography. Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025 But the legal standard for what qualifies as obscene is extremely high. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 2025 Cousins exchanged words with fans, put a hand in one man’s face and made an obscene gesture as fans threw food and drinks at him. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2025 The monthlies, at $1,714, aren’t obscene for the neighborhood, and cover private storage, a bike room, and laundry, on top of a 24-hour doorman, live-in super, and porters. Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
  • Republicans seem to try to outdo each other to see who can be the most hateful and disgusting.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2025
  • First came the disgusting pictures of waters so fouled that they were often compared to rotting guacamole.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Using vulgar, profane or indecent language in a loud or boisterous manner in the presence of children.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 June 2025
  • Between 12% and 13.3% of Americans, around 10% of Brits, and 9.4% of Australians used at least one vulgar word in their data.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • The wild and ugly scenes saw rioters attack law enforcement with rocks and Molotov cocktails while others burned vehicles and other property.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
  • The pair hit an ugly double-spinebuster on the Arabic announce table.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Your husband is foul for not calling out her garbage behavior.
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 23 June 2025
  • By the time Wood, the former Padres prospect who went to Washington in 2022 in the trade for Juan Soto, hit a three-run homer that clanged off the right field foul pole in the eighth inning to put the almost-final touch on the Nationals’ 10-6 victory, there was no real overt reaction.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • However, the idea that Gunn was going to make an awful Superman movie does not match up with his history of comic book productions across Marvel and DC.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • This has been an awful process—a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Her somewhat implausible problem is that her bad feelings—her irritation, her boredom—never register as such because of her beauty, her wealth, and her pedigree; so great is her beauty that even her nastiest moods feel like a sunny glow to others.
    Claire Jarvis, New Yorker, 8 July 2025
  • But use kind humor, not nasty or deprecating humor.
    Davia Temin, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • The portal that allows the players to go from school to school is also sickening.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
  • The Queens Botanical Garden’s annual Pride event will feature DJ music, after-hours access to the garden and sickening drag performances by Nani Tsunami and Janae SaisQuoi.
    Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
Adjective
  • The room was filthy, prescription bottles around the room, one bed with no sheets.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
  • Photograph: Chris Null As anyone who’s ever stuck a cotton swab in there knows, your ear canal is a filthy, disgusting place.
    Christopher Null, Wired News, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on obscene

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