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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ribald different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ribald are coarse, gross, obscene, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

Where would coarse be a reasonable alternative to ribald?

The synonyms coarse and ribald are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When can gross be used instead of ribald?

The meanings of gross and ribald largely overlap; however, gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

In what contexts can obscene take the place of ribald?

While in some cases nearly identical to ribald, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

When might vulgar be a better fit than ribald?

The words vulgar and ribald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

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 ribald But Beforeigners eschews the supernatural, and the campier teen soap elements, to deliver a thoughtful, moving, and often quite ribald and funny tale of various worlds colliding. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2020 Later, Society members on the city commission pulled funding from a chamber-of-commerce event, citing concerns about an allegedly ribald country-and-western band. Emma Green, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2019 The Los Angeles artist, known for her ribald depictions of middle-aged men and babies (and baby men) wreaking all manner of havoc (bodily and otherwise), is presenting a series of paintings and videos. Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2019 The Los Angeles artist, known for her ribald depictions of middle-aged men and babies (and baby men) wreaking all manner of havoc (bodily and otherwise), is presenting a new series of paintings and videos. Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for ribald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribald
Adjective
  • The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.
    Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • Severe or repeated vomiting and sudden onset chest pain are two parts of what’s called the Mackler Triad, the trio of signs suggestive of Boerhaave syndrome.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • According to the complaint, Perry did not take no for an answer, following up with suggestive text messages and other comments.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • The comics were often dismissed as a vulgar form, but the bad joke of our superhero-movie culture is that most of it is a vulgarization of the comics.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 July 2025
  • Nan’s rebellion was never loud or vulgar but always quietly confident and effortlessly elegant.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Produced by Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Nashville, Belle Meade Bourbon is a high-rye bourbon that offers a rich and spicy profile.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • On Thursday, July 10, the beloved Snack Wrap — available in spicy and ranch varieties — returns.
    Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The follow-up to 2023’s minimalist, Rick Rubin–produced Gag Order is a return to bright, bawdy, and blissfully dumb pop.
    Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 July 2025
  • Known for her bold, bawdy stand-up routines, Underwood earned respect as a trailblazer in both stand-up and television.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Your husband is foul for not calling out her garbage behavior.
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 23 June 2025
  • By the time Wood, the former Padres prospect who went to Washington in 2022 in the trade for Juan Soto, hit a three-run homer that clanged off the right field foul pole in the eighth inning to put the almost-final touch on the Nationals’ 10-6 victory, there was no real overt reaction.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Her somewhat implausible problem is that her bad feelings—her irritation, her boredom—never register as such because of her beauty, her wealth, and her pedigree; so great is her beauty that even her nastiest moods feel like a sunny glow to others.
    Claire Jarvis, New Yorker, 8 July 2025
  • But use kind humor, not nasty or deprecating humor.
    Davia Temin, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Environmentalists and labor rights activists have complained that China's graphite mining and production is dirty and dangerous.
    Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 7 July 2025
  • Employees get their hands dirty in the intro course by learning how to prompt, then move to more advanced courses on building custom GPTs and agents.
    Melissa Daimler, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ribald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribald. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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