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
While the council remained inside to finish the meeting, including approving a local emergency declaration, police were outside where a small mob gathered, yelling obscenities at the officers.
—
Victoria Le, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Officers, often summoned by principals or teacers, escalated some situations by shouting obscenities or insults.
—Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Cheers immediately broke out across the arena in response to the obscenity.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Richard howled obscenities at three officers who were talking to him through the locked door.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Victoria Le, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Officers, often summoned by principals or teacers, escalated some situations by shouting obscenities or insults.
—Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Cheers immediately broke out across the arena in response to the obscenity.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Richard howled obscenities at three officers who were talking to him through the locked door.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
Noun
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On Monday night, that park seemed so far away as Knicks fans rained vulgarities down on Wembanyama and his teammates inside Madison Square Garden.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
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As the subtitle promises, their answers are shared with all the vulgarity, pettiness, and arrogance intact.—
Juliet Izon,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Chants laced with curses echo through Madison Square Garden.—
Albert Samaha,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
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Courtside seats at Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4 will be the most expensive tickets in NBA history as the Knicks try to end their 53-year championship curse against the greatest physical force ever in basketball.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
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All your Dad has to do is fill it and drink—the microfilter membrane will do the rest by removing chlorine odors, dirt, bacteria, and any other grossness floating around in there.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
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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
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
-
Democrats use profanity to go viral.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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These examples are among the more tame messages — many are laced with profanity and references to violence.—
Maven Navarro
June 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 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 titular bear, who communicates with the girl through language—seemingly telepathic—plays a crucial role in her survival.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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The term English learners is defined by the Illinois State Board of Education as students who do not meet certain English proficiency standards and whose home language background is a language other than English.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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