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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 Using vulgar, profane or indecent language in a loud or boisterous manner in the presence of children. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 June 2025 Between 12% and 13.3% of Americans, around 10% of Brits, and 9.4% of Australians used at least one vulgar word in their data. CNN Money, 15 June 2025 The online gambling website analyzed over 1.3 million Reddit comments collected during the 2024-25 season to determine which fans were the most negative and vulgar in the league. Kendrick Marshall, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2025 According to an analysis of over 1.3 million Reddit comments collected over the 2024-2025 season, Mavericks fans are the most vulgar and most negative fans in the league. Alyssa Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
  • Because of its moisture needs, it is best planted near a body of water, such as a pond or streambed, or in low, damp spots.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
  • Trim the lower branches of your hydrangea to allow air to circulate at ground level.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • Performance Trade-Offs: Real-time applications face inherent constraints due to the computational overhead of symbolic reasoning, knowledge graph traversal and the general reduction in inference speeds compared to pure neural approaches.
    Anuradha Weeraman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The studio is banking on the rapidly growing global anime fandom, particularly in the U.S., where enthusiasm spans general audiences, Hollywood creators, celebrities and businesses.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Brandi Glanville & Lisa Vanderpump (RHOBH) Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo: Kelsey McNeal/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Lisa and Brandi were an odd fit from the start: Brandi, the crass newbie; Lisa Vanderpump, the grande dame of Beverly Hills.
    Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 11 June 2025
  • Most Popular Most Popular Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen’s crisis Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen's crisis Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Proposition 12 is the colloquial term for the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative.
    Alan Wooten, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
  • The strawberry moon is the colloquial name for June's full moon, a term originating from Native American tribes who marked the time when wild strawberries reached peak ripeness.
    Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • O’Neal credits the playgrounds of his childhood with giving him instincts on the court and helping instill the resilience to endure what felt like an ignoble start to his career.
    Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • The janky but oddly addictive Friday the 13th: The Game goes offline for good at the end of the year — an ignoble but perhaps inevitable fate for an interactive slasher that’s been plagued by problems since its rocky launch in 2017.
    A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Nearly one in four Gen Z professionals viewed the thumbs-up as rude or hostile.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • This strikes me as rude and short-sighted (no pun intended).
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • The undeniable stars are the curvaceous treehouses inspired by the endangered pangolins—the unusual, organic shape sets it apart from the typical tropical villa vernacular.
    Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • That style of neighborhood development — gradually over time, rather than building to completion all at once — also happens to be the secret to creating places with a visually appealing vernacular character, Romem said.
    Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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