1
as in pornographic
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
obscene gestures are totally inappropriate in the workplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
that ugly new store is really an obscene bit of architecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscene
Prishker previously faced misdemeanor charges of distributing obscene matter for allegedly showing the pictures of his genitals to the woman, as well as a separate incident of showing the pictures to a group of internet personalities filming a video near the border.
—
City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
This culture is incredibly cruel, and things have gotten really obscene.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
Workers described incidents of verbal and physical abuse, including reports from women workers who said they had been manhandled and subjected to obscene remarks and threats.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
For example, the state can rightly regulate defamatory statements or obscene material.
—Timothy R. Holbrook, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscene
City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
This culture is incredibly cruel, and things have gotten really obscene.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
Workers described incidents of verbal and physical abuse, including reports from women workers who said they had been manhandled and subjected to obscene remarks and threats.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
For example, the state can rightly regulate defamatory statements or obscene material.
—Timothy R. Holbrook, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
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While some individuals have produced hardcore pornographic clips starring Disney and comic book characters, others on the platform have succeeded in prompting Grok Imagine to conjure lewd imagery of Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, and Sydney Sweeney.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
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OpenAI included numerous guardrails with Sora, including moderation, restrictions on scammy, violent and pornographic material, watermarks and controls over how one's likeness is used.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That would probably be the most disgusting kind.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Continue reading … 'DISGUSTING' – Jen Psaki jokes Usha Vance scared of her husband, ripped for 'disgusting' comments.—
,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Who decides what’s decorous and what’s vulgar?—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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The president has been targeting Jeffries online with offensive and vulgar memes since the pair first had an unsuccessful sit-down meeting in the Oval Office just before the shutdown.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The long-range scoring of Sandell and Thomas provided the night’s most memorable moments, but Mateer helped pace the offense after an ugly 99-yard first half, racking up 252 yards in the second.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Advertisement Ugly sentiments deserve ugly art, though Jude takes a nuanced stance on this matter.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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SulfurSolve aims to play a central role in transforming a deadly, foul-smelling fuel into usable resources.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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Guerrero ended the top of the fourth inning with a diving catch into foul territory, repeating Daulton Varsho’s defensive brilliance from moments before.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Hurricane Melissa’s devastation is the awful alchemy created by the unique combination of unstoppable gusts, seawater that is forced inland and deluge that pours out of the sky, all interacting with the landscape and human lives the storm found in its path.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2025
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These limits exist because of the history of the government’s awful record with race.—
Andrew Quinio,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The discrepancy has divided voters, stirred up nasty social media exchanges and even inspired an 18-year-old Lakota grad to throw his hat in the district's school board race.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
29 Oct. 2025
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And any school or school district that does try to discriminate, that man right there will probably first send you a nasty gram and then drop the hammer.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Winter is coming, and no amount of Narcan can solve this sickening public health crisis.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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The injury was so sickening that the CBS broadcast only replayed it once, lest anyone with a weak stomach lose their lunch.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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