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
Ōshima requested that the high court explain their definition of obscenity, but no reply was forthcoming, and the charges were dropped.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 May 2025
Last Friday, the 31-year-old country star stopped her concert at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, to chastise fans who were yelling obscenities about the 39-year-old Australian singer.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
One video posted online shows the drones take off from a truck bed parked along a highway as the Russian narrator let obscenities fly.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 2 June 2025
But in the end, all the gleeful obscenity took a backseat to the story’s true subject: the terrifying process of growing up.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 May 2025
Last Friday, the 31-year-old country star stopped her concert at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, to chastise fans who were yelling obscenities about the 39-year-old Australian singer.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
One video posted online shows the drones take off from a truck bed parked along a highway as the Russian narrator let obscenities fly.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 2 June 2025
But in the end, all the gleeful obscenity took a backseat to the story’s true subject: the terrifying process of growing up.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
Noun
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The juxtaposition of popular art’s messy vulgarity with the pristine aspirations of high art is surprisingly uninvolving.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2025
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Higher courts often interpret whether cases fall under the protections of the First Amendment. Freedom of speech, including vulgarity, is common in such cases.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Because perhaps heartbreak is not only a curse, but also a language.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
20 June 2025
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His thought that autism is a curse that destroys families IS the tragedy.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Bonus: For every 100ml bottle sold, Omorovicza donates 5% to Water.org, supporting global access to safe water. Jones Road Miracle Balm, $40 Women over 50 swear by this award-winning, Bobbi Brown-founded brand for its nourishing and hydrating qualities.—
Kristen Philipkoski,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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The word was forbidden in their household and treated like a swear.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The city’s agreement with Clear Channel and Outfront Foster has similar terms, including several prohibitions such as no motion, no illumination between midnight and 6 a.m., and no violence, profanity, adult goods or services, or political and religious content.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
18 June 2025
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But outside of some mature dialogue in some instances, there is no profanity or otherwise inappropriate language.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
17 June 2025
Noun
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To invoke a cliche, the movie teaches you how to watch it, establishing a visual language early and hammering it often.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
20 June 2025
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Strip out all corporate language, jargon, and unnecessary words.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
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As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
-
The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Noun
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An official synopsis for ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ reads: Valentín (Diego Luna), a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina (Tonatiuh), a window dresser convicted of public indecency.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
5 June 2025
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Lopez plays Ingrid Luna/the Spider Woman, a fictional silver screen diva who brings dazzling technicolor into the bleak life of prisoner Molina (Tonatiuh), a window dresser convicted of public indecency.—
Mekishana Pierre Updated,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
Noun
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President Trump used the f-word expletive while discussing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
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Trump’s frustration was palpable, using an expletive to hammer home his point.—
Sam Mednick,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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