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
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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
The investigation began when detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit served a search warrant in Bakersfield based on a tip about a person who was in possession and used obscene material involving an underage girl, authorities announced in a news release on Tuesday.
—
Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
With his plea, a federal indictment relating to transfer of obscene material to a minor would not be pursued.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 5 May 2025
This social justice kitsch becomes a mildly obscene evocation of racial terrorism.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Apr. 2025
Fifteen years after her husband’s drowning in the nearby bay, Tressilian’s days are spent in a cranky routine: grumbling over the obscene resort stationed on the opposite bluff, reading London’s gossip columns, and summoning the household help with the insistent ringing of a bedroom call bell.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscene
Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
With his plea, a federal indictment relating to transfer of obscene material to a minor would not be pursued.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 5 May 2025
This social justice kitsch becomes a mildly obscene evocation of racial terrorism.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Apr. 2025
Fifteen years after her husband’s drowning in the nearby bay, Tressilian’s days are spent in a cranky routine: grumbling over the obscene resort stationed on the opposite bluff, reading London’s gossip columns, and summoning the household help with the insistent ringing of a bedroom call bell.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
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Police call fake GoFundMe page 'disgusting' Concord Police Capt. Brian Goldman said police are investigating.—
Norman Miller,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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But where was the anger from Erik Spoelstra in his post-game news conference about this disgusting performance?—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Climate change vandals spray-painted a Tesla car dealership in Manhattan on Tuesday to protest Elon Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but as police arrived, the activists could be seen cleaning off some of the vulgar writing.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Two of the protesters are facing counts including obstructing a law enforcement officer and simple battery on a law enforcement officer, while a third has been charged with using vulgar language, according to Acworth police.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The series between the Warriors and the Rockets was slow, low scoring, and ugly—which is exactly how the younger, less experienced Rockets wanted it.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
11 May 2025
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This wasn’t the first time Green was subjected to ugly behavior from opposing fans.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Four pitches into the game, Willy Adames crushed a hanging 1-2 slider for what appeared to be a solo home run, only for the call to be overturned by replay, the ball swerving just left of the foul pole.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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Ketel Marte hit a solo home run around the right-field foul pole.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Councilmember Vivian Moreno said the timing on the prostitution detectives seems awful, with prostitution appearing to have gotten worse in recent months on Dalbergia Street in Barrio Logan.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
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Alisha Weir stars as the whip-smart Matilda Wormwood, who escapes her awful parents (Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough) by disappearing into books and finding a friend in Lashana Lynch’s sweet Miss Honey at her terrifying new school.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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The apps have a nasty trick that fools users into the initial download, and once on a phone, the damage is done.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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He’s been the spirit of the Panthers’ skillfully nasty style the previous two springs.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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For years, raw sewage from Mexico has poured across the border into Southern California, fouling beaches, sickening residents and sparking diplomatic as well as environmental concerns.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 May 2025
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And once the sickening jolts of the combat takeoff had ended and Bui slowly grew accustomed to the noise and the pressure of the C-130, the taste of KFC stopped his crying.—
Jennifer Brookland,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At least 12 outside experts submitted testimony in what’s called the Dunsmore case, finding that San Diego jails are filthy and that workers regularly fail to follow best practices or department policies.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
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So The Righteous Gemstones went with the sentimental ending — or at least what counts for a sentimental ending in a series so committed to the filthiest possible turns of phrase.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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