Definition of vulgarnext
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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of vulgar are coarse, gross, obscene, and ribald. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

When is it sensible to use coarse instead of vulgar?

While the synonyms coarse and vulgar are close in meaning, coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When might gross be a better fit than vulgar?

The synonyms gross and vulgar are sometimes interchangeable, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

In what contexts can obscene take the place of vulgar?

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

obscene language not allowed on the air

Where would ribald be a reasonable alternative to vulgar?

In some situations, the words ribald and vulgar are roughly equivalent. However, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

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 vulgar The word was considered so vulgar that it was left out of early dictionaries and was rarely printed, though Adams says people were certainly using it. Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026 One day, Dahlstrom made a vulgar joke in a lunchroom referencing oral sex and pubic hair, according to the employee. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026 Doncic claimed Bitadze directed a vulgar comment about Doncic’s family in Serbian toward the Lakers star guard. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026 Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets. Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
  • This is especially important for low-income communities and others who rely heavily on the shot for contraception.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
  • Not since Oakland Hills in 2008 — Jeev Milkha Singh and Robert Karlsson at 2-under 68 — has the low score to par after the first round of the PGA Championship been worse than 3 under.
    Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • If this obscene gerrymander survives, the next one will purge what little remains of Democratic representation in the Legislature, where the GOP holds massive supermajorities far beyond its share of the electorate.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
  • He was also given a third charge involving obscene material and minors, according to jail records.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Fields pairs highly adaptable facilities with expert, hands-on production support — a combination that general manager RoseMary Prodonovich says is designed to fuel creative endeavors.
    Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • Husband is a genuinely excellent partner and a kind, funny, good person in general.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • In the series adaptation, from creator, executive producer and co-showrunner Turner (Up In The Air, X-Men First Class), a ruthless and crass barbarian is cursed to only use his violence for good, which sends him, his talking axe and a young witch on a road of self discovery, redemption and revenge.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 May 2026
  • Created by Mike Moreci and Nathan Gooden and edited by Adrian Wassel, Barbaric centers on a ruthless and crass barbarian who is cursed to only use his violence for good, which sends him, his talking axe and a young witch, on a road of self-discovery, redemption and revenge.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • Spaar’s colloquial flippancies only reinforces her fervency.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
  • The women’s game’s limited coverage meant his other honours with Umea — reaching two more UEFA Cup finals and five domestic trophies — were appreciated on a more colloquial level.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • That ignoble mini-streak ends this year.
    Glen Weldon, NPR, 14 May 2026
  • But her flame was dimmed for far too long by one ignoble record: having the longest streak in Daytime Emmys history of nominations without a win.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Professor Glen-Peter Ahlers, 71, was arrested in February after at least hundreds of pornographic photos and videos of children were found on his hard drive.
    Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
  • The illicit chatbots allegedly produced pornographic images.
    Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

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