as in to vulgarize
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Recent Examples of coarsen
If Trump’s effect on the Republican Party was simply to coarsen it, then progressives might have grimaced and taken it.
—
The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2022
But Democrats were helping to coarsen it long before Trump came along.
—Marc A. Thiessen, The Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2019
In a country so divided and coarsened, does one person’s private struggle for moral purity really matter?
—Danny Heitman, WSJ, 30 Dec. 2018
Look, the culture has been coarsened, the entertainment industry, music, film, billboards, television, everything is over sexualized or too violent or just dumped down altogether.
—Fox News, 3 Aug. 2018
See All Example Sentences for coarsen
The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2022
But Democrats were helping to coarsen it long before Trump came along.
—Marc A. Thiessen, The Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2019
In a country so divided and coarsened, does one person’s private struggle for moral purity really matter?
—Danny Heitman, WSJ, 30 Dec. 2018
Look, the culture has been coarsened, the entertainment industry, music, film, billboards, television, everything is over sexualized or too violent or just dumped down altogether.
—Fox News, 3 Aug. 2018
See All Example Sentences for coarsen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coarsen
Verb
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His versions were full-blooded, with lush strings and reasonably large orchestras — and, purists alleged — vulgarizing distortions.—
BostonGlobe.com,
BostonGlobe.com,
28 Oct. 2019
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Ever since his rise to power, Trump has served as a vulgarizing agent.—
Leon Neyfakh,
Slate Magazine,
2 June 2017
Verb
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Towels and bathmats that are old, worn out, or very basic can drag down the overall aesthetic of a bathroom.—
Nomita Vaish-Taylor,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
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User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Canadians are a game behind after their tournament opener against Finland was postponed after the Finnish roster was depleted by a stomach virus.—
John Wawrow,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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And as a result, this critical infrastructure project was frozen during that shutdown in which the entirety of the federal government was depleted of funds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The business side, and the demands of independent touring, had left the singer-songwriter jaded, despite having a reliable fanbase and lifelong friendships with major Texas acts such as Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
1 Jan. 2026
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Their mini-quests provide a bit of decent action here and there, as well as plenty of principled banter between a blinkered optimist (Lucy) and jaded doomsayer (Ghoul).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Most retirees are overexposed to housing.—
Allison Schrager,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
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That range can provide diversification benefits without overexposing retirees to price swings that don't generate dividends or interest.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Education experts and parent advocates who are concerned about schools overusing devices for instruction said the documents shed new light, in candid detail, on the business motivations behind one of the biggest technology companies marketing its products to teachers and school administrators.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
23 Jan. 2026
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So, if the idea of culture is overused, its importance tells the path to success — or failure.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Coalition for Faith and Media, in partnership with HarrisX, recently launched a research study that found 70% of Americans believe Hollywood stereotypes faith, while 82% say film and TV should prioritize portraying more accurate and complex portrayals of faith and religion.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
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Symptoms such as hot flashes and mood changes are well known, and often stereotyped, but experts worldwide want to highlight that women face a huge range of changes to their bodies during the menopause – and lack of awareness means many will start experiencing symptoms without knowing why.—
Sashikala VP,
CNN Money,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coarsen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coarsen. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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