as in curses
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
uttered a loud obscenity when he dropped the hammer on his toe
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Recent Examples of obscenities
Officers outfitted for combat commingle with Americans screaming obscenities and taunting them.
—
Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The hate group came to the city to wave swastika flags, scream obscenities and generally harass people downtown in July 2024.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Dec. 2025
The station later posted an explanation to listeners who were not only subjected to obscenities, but also missed a game between the Cowboys and their archrivals.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025
At a February concert, Ballerini momentarily paused her show in Hollywood, Florida, when fans began to shout obscenities about Evans.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
Brown hurled obscenities at the manager and left the building as the fast-food worker screamed in pain, according to the footage.
—Mitch Picasso, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Nineteenth century reformers and religious authorities condemned the circus as an ungodly, drunken spectacle ripe with gender transgressions and obscenities.
—Time, 30 Oct. 2025
In September, he’d been convicted of indecent exposure (and using obscenities) after allegedly exposing himself during a Miami concert.
—David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
Those exceptions include true threats, defamation, harassment and obscenities.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The hate group came to the city to wave swastika flags, scream obscenities and generally harass people downtown in July 2024.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Dec. 2025
The station later posted an explanation to listeners who were not only subjected to obscenities, but also missed a game between the Cowboys and their archrivals.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025
At a February concert, Ballerini momentarily paused her show in Hollywood, Florida, when fans began to shout obscenities about Evans.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
Brown hurled obscenities at the manager and left the building as the fast-food worker screamed in pain, according to the footage.
—Mitch Picasso, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Nineteenth century reformers and religious authorities condemned the circus as an ungodly, drunken spectacle ripe with gender transgressions and obscenities.
—Time, 30 Oct. 2025
In September, he’d been convicted of indecent exposure (and using obscenities) after allegedly exposing himself during a Miami concert.
—David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
Those exceptions include true threats, defamation, harassment and obscenities.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenities
Noun
-
In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
-
And as relief from one of the greatest curses imaginable – chronic pain – the neuro-key may offer pain modulation without the expense, side effects, and addiction risk of opioids and systemic drugs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Onlookers immediately rose up in anger and outrage, screaming at the agents and shouting profanities.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Protesters and police clash Police at one point threw devices releasing smoke to break up the crowd, which carried signs and shouted profanities at them.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters in Minnesota swarmed the vehicle of conservative influencer Nick Sortor on Sunday, shouting at him and yelling expletives.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The whole issue of award show expletives came to the Supreme Court twice, the last time in 2012, when the justices struck down fines on Fox Television Stations over expletives uttered by Cher and Nicole Richie during the Billboard Music Awards, as well as nudity that aired on ABC’s NYPD Blue.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obscenities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenities. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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