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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
In dollar terms, that means a roughly $442 billion increase for the Pentagon, funded in part by reductions to Medicaid, housing assistance, childcare, and home energy aid for low-income seniors—a tradeoff that Democrats called a moral obscenity and Republicans called overdue.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Reshelve the titles that a federal court ruled were wrongly removed and apply the legal standard that survived judicial review — Florida’s already-existing obscenity laws.
—Jacob Crainic, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
The unspoken obscenity of the incident was that fifty dollars was all Monroe ever profited from a calendar that, thanks to reprints, moved several million copies by 1955.
—Joshua John Miller, Vanity Fair, 9 Apr. 2026
In a prior incident on March 13, Ebert allegedly pulled up his vehicle toward William Yates in the neighborhood to yell obscenities at him before making a three-point turn and driving toward him at a high speed, William Yates told investigators, according to the Times.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Reshelve the titles that a federal court ruled were wrongly removed and apply the legal standard that survived judicial review — Florida’s already-existing obscenity laws.
—Jacob Crainic, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
The unspoken obscenity of the incident was that fifty dollars was all Monroe ever profited from a calendar that, thanks to reprints, moved several million copies by 1955.
—Joshua John Miller, Vanity Fair, 9 Apr. 2026
In a prior incident on March 13, Ebert allegedly pulled up his vehicle toward William Yates in the neighborhood to yell obscenities at him before making a three-point turn and driving toward him at a high speed, William Yates told investigators, according to the Times.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
Noun
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In addition, prosecutors say swastikas, antisemitic slogans and vulgarity were spray-painted on pillars underneath M-53 and Canal, a brick wall near a business and an electrical box at a second business.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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His vulgarity, insults and threats do not make America great.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Baseball has always been a sport that believes in the occult — in juju and curses and superstitions.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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Mike Russo writes that, in breaking their curse, the Wild may have their best shot at a title in franchise history.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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There are no great surprises from here on out, though the sheer, lusty grossness of the fallout is occasionally startling.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The event finds more than 20,000 people participating in an annual bar crawl throughout the city while dressed in their best holiday attire, tackiest Santa Claus costumes, and ugliest Christmas swears.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
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Kennedy could be heard hurling swears at the Swedish team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
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
-
There's some adult language There are several elements of adult language throughout the film, including minor instances of profanity and several passive insults.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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Just this insane profanity-laden tirade that went on and on and on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 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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The language of civil rights will always be most appealing to political minorities in search of procedural arguments to temper or frustrate the will of the majority.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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In late March, Tijuana officials introduced an English-language app known as the Emergency Button, or Botón de Emergencia.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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