1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
a bawdy comment about someone you work with could get you fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in suggestive
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent
a bawdy limerick that mischievous storytellers love to recite
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bawdy
The high point of the Rhineland region carnival season, is its parades showcasing bawdy political satire.
—
Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
The film tracked Craig’s move to the suburbs to escape vengeful hood demon Deebo, serving as an example of how Black comedies on the big screen became snapshots of a time—with all their vernacular, bawdy cartoonish carnality, neck rolls, and flamboyant Blackness.
—Noel Ransome, Essence, 13 Feb. 2025
The Bronx native joined such luminaries as Samuel Beckett, Sam Shepard, John Lennon and Robert Benton in contributing material to the bawdy 1969 Broadway musical revue Oh!
—Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2025
Yet the fact that the ultra-cheeky Williams is inexplicably presented as a bawdy CG ape man (given cool moves and voice via performance capture by Jonno Davies) matches the fantastical nature of the British pop star’s bananas rise-and-fall-and-rise-again tale.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bawdy
Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
The film tracked Craig’s move to the suburbs to escape vengeful hood demon Deebo, serving as an example of how Black comedies on the big screen became snapshots of a time—with all their vernacular, bawdy cartoonish carnality, neck rolls, and flamboyant Blackness.
—Noel Ransome, Essence, 13 Feb. 2025
The Bronx native joined such luminaries as Samuel Beckett, Sam Shepard, John Lennon and Robert Benton in contributing material to the bawdy 1969 Broadway musical revue Oh!
—Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2025
Yet the fact that the ultra-cheeky Williams is inexplicably presented as a bawdy CG ape man (given cool moves and voice via performance capture by Jonno Davies) matches the fantastical nature of the British pop star’s bananas rise-and-fall-and-rise-again tale.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bawdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawdy
Adjective
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This social justice kitsch becomes a mildly obscene evocation of racial terrorism.—
Armond White,
National Review,
18 Apr. 2025
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Fifteen years after her husband’s drowning in the nearby bay, Tressilian’s days are spent in a cranky routine: grumbling over the obscene resort stationed on the opposite bluff, reading London’s gossip columns, and summoning the household help with the insistent ringing of a bedroom call bell.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Mackintosh and Bourne mitigate the damage by grouping some songs together and presenting them in an ingeniously suggestive dramatic fashion.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
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This revelation tempers the expectations of a Dynasty revival despite the suggestive interactions and Hammerstone's social media activity.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The comments in screen shots of the chat room were demeaning and vulgar – as were the texts from the anonymous messenger who had sent her the images.—
Yoonjung Seo and Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
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Where once was the vulgar, now lies the Vulgate, a common relatable almost religious experience that all at Barclays seemed to feel.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The admirable Kentucky Freedom Run Farm provides the fine, flavorful lamb for a slow braising and sided with a spicy tomato jam risotto, coriander, mint-and-pistachio gremolata and the reduction of the meat’s juices.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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His agenda for a perfect day in L.A. includes a boat party, an ice bath and the most glorious spicy shrimp in town.—
Michelle Woo,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Much of the dialogue is hilariously ribald, especially in a locker room scene in which the two nude men share a tender familial embrace after comparing penises.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 June 2023
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The couple became a symbol of marital stability in the freewheeling rock world, even as Charlie drummed for a band that was the most famously ribald band in music history.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
19 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Mingyang took the center of the Octagon from the beginning, landed hard leg kicks, and opened a nasty gash on Smith’s forehead with a step-in elbow.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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With a triple-digit heater and a nasty slider, he’s always been a tantalizing talent.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Verdugo had one more at-bat, closing out the bottom of the eighth inning with a foul pop out off another reliever, Cole Sands.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
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The Pistons foul at one of the highest rates in the league, and both Brunson and Towns will get their share of points from the floor and foul line.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Tom Hardy stars in the neo-noir crime thriller as a corrupt detective named Walker, who shoots, punches, and drop-kicks his way through an entire criminal underworld to rescue the estranged son of dirty politician Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker).—
Mike Miller,
EW.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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But as stated, not every relationship that has an age difference regarding an older man and a younger woman involves a dirty old fart looking to wrangle a naive young woman.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bawdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawdy. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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