as in pornographic
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
inappropriately used office e-mail for an exchange of raunchy jokes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 raunchy
Chaucer, who wrote in Middle English, was famously raunchy, and this fart has been rumbling since the fourteenth century.
—
Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
Parker teased that the movie is raunchier than Lopez’s past romantic comedies, which include Maid in Manhattan, The Wedding Plannerand Monster-in-Law.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Or maybe Elliott is just cracking a raunchy joke?
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The actress' turn to OnlyFans recontextualizes Elizabeth's partially nude role in the 1999 raunchy teen comedy, as Nadia is recorded via webcam by hapless admirer Jim (Jason Biggs), without her knowledge, in an encounter that spirals into live spectacle.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for raunchy
Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
Parker teased that the movie is raunchier than Lopez’s past romantic comedies, which include Maid in Manhattan, The Wedding Plannerand Monster-in-Law.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Or maybe Elliott is just cracking a raunchy joke?
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The actress' turn to OnlyFans recontextualizes Elizabeth's partially nude role in the 1999 raunchy teen comedy, as Nadia is recorded via webcam by hapless admirer Jim (Jason Biggs), without her knowledge, in an encounter that spirals into live spectacle.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for raunchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raunchy
Adjective
-
While Washington drags its feet, kids across the nation are being exposed to vile, pornographic images and ads with no meaningful safeguards to prevent it.—
Rachel del Guidice,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
-
An online version of the guide — sans pornographic images — is available on the city’s website.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
It was seized by the post office (as Rosset had expected) and duly declared obscene by the postmaster of the city of New York, a man named Robert Christenberry.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Who says a man can’t appreciate the gleaming, obscene form of an Aston Martin supercar or the growl of its overpriced engine?—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Aiyuk appears to direct two common insults at the subject of the video — almost certainly the 49ers — by using the literal, nonprofane meanings of the terms rather than saying the vulgar words themselves.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
-
Wembanyama missed seven shots from the floor, going 11 of 18 and silencing the crowd that at one point directed a vulgar chant his way.—
Stephen Whyno,
Twin Cities,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
This problem usually begins in hidden crevices in seals and gaskets, but this nasty biofilm can eventually spread and make your dishwasher unsanitary.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Fluent in the Dominican power bouyon offshoot known as nasty business, Miimii commands the enterprise with sing-speak vocals that operate on a strictly single-entendre basis, dispensing with innuendo to directly address the question on her suitor’s hips.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
There are two freezer martini variations – one with vodka, served dirty and another with gin and a lemon twist.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
-
Wet bathing suits and dirty clothes need somewhere to go once your kid has changed into something dry and clean.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Once opened, check for foul odors, cloudiness, or spurting liquid when opening.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Dailey made a jump shot and a pair of foul shots and UCLA led the remainder.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, the prescription offered by those who saw a generally healthy way of life as the right way to prevent disease helped propel cleaning up the filthy cities of the Industrial Revolution—and that really did reduce the impact of common fevers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
For your pickle cravings, there’s no shortage of fantastically filthy martinis chock-full of brine.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Raunchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raunchy. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
