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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 Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was docked $14,491 for making an obscene gesture after a big catch. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025 Other users called her obscene names, threatened to show up at her workplace, or sent her a photograph of guns. Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Clothing must not feature offensive language, obscene gestures/graphics, or nudity or clothing that does not sufficiently cover undergarments. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025 The store supplied her with bondage pants, kilts, and T-shirts printed with obscene illustrations. Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
  • Like its more famous cousin from Willendorf, the depicted woman looks less like a person than like a pornographic composite of breasts, hips, and labia.
    Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Jessica Guistolise, Megan Hurley and Molly Kelley talk with CNBC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 11, 2025, about fake pornographic images and videos depicting their faces made by their mutual friend Ben using AI site DeepSwap.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Evshine Memory Foam Slippers Listen, airplane floors are disgusting.
    Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Some of the abuse that came later, though, was disgusting.
    Kevin Coulson, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Colorado has condemned a vulgar chant its fans directed at BYU during its football team’s 24-21 loss Saturday at Folsom Field.
    David Ubben, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Protecting speech for all requires great tolerance for the vulgar, rude, offensive, angry, mean and, yes, even hateful.
    The Detroit News Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • As if the Twins hadn’t experienced enough misery, September opened at home with an ugly, four-game sweep by the White Sox, who lost at least 100 games for the third year in a row.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • When the Motion Picture Association of America joined the consortium, in 2014, the fight grew uglier.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, Rocchio walloped a fastball off the right-field foul pole for a walk-off homer, an exclamation point at the end of a regular season that culminated in an improbable AL Central crown.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Officers responded to the scene after a foul odor was reported coming from the vehicle.
    Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Once the selloff happened, the Twins were destined to be awful for the final two months, all but sealing Baldelli’s fate.
    Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • That’s the awful low; but Dunne’s story is ultimately one of redemption.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Big, nasty and physical, Kalani Sitake’s bunch controls the ball on offense and gets it back quickly on defense.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Chad Powers’ nasty protagonist should give it license to be more cutting, rather than just unimaginatively crude, in its humor.
    Judy Berman, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • To come in and have [designers] fight over my Polaroid would be so sickening, or even a judge on the show.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Man arrested for sickening act at Charlie Kirk memorial outside Turning Point HQ MAJOR HEADLINES PARTY POWERPLAY – Zohran Mamdani lands key endorsement in New York City mayoral race.
    , FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on obscene

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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