1
as in vulgarity
the quality or state of being obscene
the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
uttered a loud obscenity when he dropped the hammer on his toe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscenity
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
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
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
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
Noun
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With its insistent, obsessive patter, not to mention its unrelenting commitment to in-your-face vulgarity, Sherman’s comedy is hardly for everyone.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2025
-
The artist’s way, of course, is sincere, even if in the case of Dracula, sincerity begets just under three hours of unsparing cultural commentary and full goose bozo vulgarity.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Everything changes when a man from the protagonist's past (Harington) comes back from war, and a curse arrives in the form of a knight.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Nico Harrison is gone, but his curse on the Mavericks lingers.—
Kevin Sherrington,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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He is charged with open and lewd grossness.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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In fact, plenty of other things in your home surpass the toilet in terms of grossness.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In both The Wire and 25th Hour, Whitlock uttered his catchphrase swear.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
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Some swear by using coffee grounds to give their Christmas cactus encouragement during the blooming season.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The other funnymen of the time—Milton Berle with his lewd suggestiveness, Jackie Gleason with his baleful roar—did the same shtick over and over.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Trump has occasionally used profanity in public settings, often in response to criticism, confrontation or to emphasize his point.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
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While some online scolds didn’t like Johnson’s profanity, this has played well in Chicago, a city that has been ravenous for a winning Bears team since the 20th Super Bowl.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Nationally, median early career wages range from $40,000 for a foreign language degree to $80,000 for a computer science degree, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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Administration officials have cut that time roughly in half, partly by eliminating Spanish-language courses.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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