1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

obscenity

noun

äb-ˈse-nə-tē How to pronounce obscenity (audio)
Definition of obscenitynext
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

Relevance

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obscenity Now, as some have noted, there are Supreme Court precedents that have already held that broadcasters don’t have complete free speech rights around things like, for example, obscenity. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 The obscenity charges stemmed from performances at The Troubadour nightclub on Santa Monica Boulevard and The Unicorn coffeehouse on the Sunset Strip. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Basin then turned toward another beachgoer, shouted an obscenity and resumed arguing with members of the group. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 An original call for service indicated that suspects pulled up to a CBS media vehicle and began shouting racial obscenities at a CBS cameraman who is Black, a law enforcement source said. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
  1. vulgarity
  2. curse
  3. grossness
  4. swear
  5. suggestiveness
  6. profanity
  7. crudeness
  8. language
Noun
  • Community outrage about the image, along with online posts calling the mayor a host of vulgarities, spilled into a recent council meeting and is inflaming political divisions within College Park.
    — Reed Williams, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • In a sprightly performance rife with oddball mannerisms, Gnecco gives Borges equal parts impish wisdom, earthy vulgarity and childlike wonder, rarely letting a moment’s silence go unfilled with eager chatter.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of vulgarity
Noun
  • The anime’s first part closed with the disturbances tied to the body-swap curse largely resolved, and with Reirin and Keigetsu having grown closer after coming to understand each other through the experience.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • For readers who are familiar with the literary curse of Plaschke in his column over the years, this prediction is not that.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of curse
Noun
  • But Paddy’s isn’t Sudz, and the Gang’s efforts to soft-pedal their antics to be more in line with those mainstream bars devolved into typical Sunny-style hostility and off-putting grossness.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of grossness
Noun
  • The pinky swear proved binding, as Nelson wrote the screenplay within six weeks.
    — William Earl, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • Why fill with swears a show that might otherwise have been appointment viewing for the whole family?
    — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Definition of swear
Noun
  • The Averys also lack the deep, metaphysical suggestiveness of the Gottliebs.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The bucket quickly went viral for its not-safe-for-work suggestiveness.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of suggestiveness
Noun
  • Witnesses on the plane told CBS News New York that Lundeen's behavior -- which included screaming profanities and racial slurs and becoming physically abusive -- was putting other passengers at risk.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Armed with strings of profanity and his thick Mancunian brogue, Liam admits that being back in front of an audience does, in fact, mean a lot to him.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of profanity
Noun
  • There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.
    — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of crudeness
Noun
  • Whole lives are neatly bound in tidy language, conveyed within the confines of a page or two.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • So early this year, Henderson's doctors, evaluating his tumor's deep genetic language, turned to a drug made by Merck and AstraZeneca called Lynparza.
    — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of language

Browse Nearby Words

obscenities
obscenity
obscurant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on obscenity

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obscenity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of pundit

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All