obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈse-nə-tē 
əb-
also -ˈsē-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene
Examples of obscenity in a Sentence
The author uses obscenity to make a point about the culture.
the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
Recent Examples on the Web
Right next to her crowd of women's sports advocates was a mosh of pro-transgender activists wearing costumes and shouting obscenities.
—
Jackson Thompson Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
An original call for service indicated that suspects pulled up to a CBS media vehicle and began shouting racial obscenities at a CBS cameraman who is Black, a law enforcement source said.
—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2026
And a relatively small number of conservative states have banned drag shows under public indecency or obscenity statutes.
—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
30 June 2026
Jonathan Xavier Valdez, 36, of Blue Springs, faces charges of production of child obscenity involving multiple minors, according to a news release from Dave Ketchmark, a spokesperson for the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Missouri.
—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Jackson Thompson Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
An original call for service indicated that suspects pulled up to a CBS media vehicle and began shouting racial obscenities at a CBS cameraman who is Black, a law enforcement source said.
—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2026
And a relatively small number of conservative states have banned drag shows under public indecency or obscenity statutes.
—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
30 June 2026
Jonathan Xavier Valdez, 36, of Blue Springs, faces charges of production of child obscenity involving multiple minors, according to a news release from Dave Ketchmark, a spokesperson for the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Missouri.
—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscenity. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈsen-ət-ē
əb-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something that is obscene
Legal Definition
obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈse-nə-tē
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene
also
: obscene material
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