gross 1 of 3

adjective

ˈgrōs How to pronounce gross (audio)
Definition of grossnext
1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society he was thrown out of class for making a gross gesture

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2
as in plump
having an excess of body fat a very gross cat trying to squeeze through a small opening in the fence

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3
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste she haughtily refused to mix with what she called "the gross masses who are unappreciative of fine art"

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4
as in blatant
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad a gross mistake that some proofreader should have caught

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5
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the little boy insisted that worms are gross

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gross

2 of 3

noun

1
as in total

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2
as in revenue

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gross

3 of 3

verb

as in to net

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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of gross are coarse, obscene, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When can coarse be used instead of gross?

The synonyms coarse and gross are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

Where would obscene be a reasonable alternative to gross?

Although the words obscene and gross have much in common, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

When could ribald be used to replace gross?

The meanings of ribald and gross largely overlap; however, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

When is it sensible to use vulgar instead of gross?

While in some cases nearly identical to gross, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

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

Some common synonyms of gross are coarse, obscene, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When can coarse be used instead of gross?

The synonyms coarse and gross are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

Where would obscene be a reasonable alternative to gross?

Although the words obscene and gross have much in common, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

When could ribald be used to replace gross?

The meanings of ribald and gross largely overlap; however, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

When is it sensible to use vulgar instead of gross?

While in some cases nearly identical to gross, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

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

Some common synonyms of gross are coarse, obscene, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When can coarse be used instead of gross?

The synonyms coarse and gross are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

Where would obscene be a reasonable alternative to gross?

Although the words obscene and gross have much in common, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

When could ribald be used to replace gross?

The meanings of ribald and gross largely overlap; however, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

When is it sensible to use vulgar instead of gross?

While in some cases nearly identical to gross, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

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 gross
Adjective
The business generates about $500,000 in annual gross revenue, and the sale includes roughly $30,000 in inventory, $31,500 in equipment and a Type 20 beer-and-wine license, according to information from Sacramento Business Brokers. —David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026 The discrepancy arises because the Braves report gross revenue for categories such as retail and concessions, whereas CNBC includes net revenue in accordance with MLB reporting practices. —Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
Rural theaters also represented an outsized share of box office grosses. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 2 Feb. 2026 However, the film is doing better than expected with a gross of around $8 million despite negative reception from film critics. —Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
And, as of Tuesday (Feb. 17), the film has grossed $38 million domestically and $22.8 million internationally for a worldwide tally of $60.8 million. —Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026 The descriptions of dead bodies on the true crime podcasts gross me out, but to see it in person is something else entirely. —Danielle Parker, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gross
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gross
  1. obscene
  2. plump
  3. crass
  4. blatant
  5. disgusting
  6. total
  7. revenue
  8. net
Adjective
  • And for a while, Chase was like spending kind of obscene amounts of money like recycling the metal and the thing.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
  • An investigation by the Bakersfield Police Department also led to separate charges citing Mays for possession of more than 600 images of youth or child pornography and distribution of obscene matter involving someone younger than 18.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • It’s packed with maracujá oil and other nourishing ingredients to condition and plump, all while delivering high-shine, hydrating color that actually stays put.
    — Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Beds are plump, bathtubs are deep and all are designed to optimize the island’s brilliant natural light.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of plump
Adjective
  • The beloved slapstick comedy is 85 minutes of pure entertainment, full of increasingly chaotic adventures and shockingly crass jokes that still produce guffaws decades later.
    — Rachel Simon, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
  • In a not crass way, no matter what your vice of choice is, someone who enables that behavior, even just by being there, is a really relatable idea.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of crass
Adjective
  • While 140 children were miraculously unharmed, the community remains shaken by this blatant terror.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The real threat to Americans is our headlong rush toward normalizing blatant murder, whether that be of nameless occupants of motorboats in the Caribbean, schoolgirls in Iran or United States citizens in the streets of Minneapolis.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of blatant
Adjective
  • On the phone, Miranda admits she’s known for a week, but agrees that what Shinia did was disgusting.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The litter box was still disgusting.
    — Jennifer Wolfgram, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Noun
  • Also on Tuesday, the board approved three separate resolutions to accept a total of $69,500 in grant funding from the United States Tennis Association for resurfacing of the courts at the city's tennis center.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Because Naperville is in both DuPage and Will counties, vote totals from both will need to be counted before unofficial results are complete.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of total
Noun
  • Moscow relies heavily on oil revenue to finance its war on Ukraine, and sanctions were a growing handicap.
    — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The league had been offering more than 70% net revenue for the players.
    — Doug Feinberg, Twin Cities, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of revenue
Verb
  • Kristen Stewart, who tends to put her own spin on Chanel’s classic looks, continued that trend in an edgy, black sheer and netted jacket and skirt from the Métiers d’art 2026 collection.
    — Brandi Fowler, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Jose Alvarado spent the first four-and-a-half seasons of his NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans before joining the Knicks in a series of trades that sent Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls before netting the Puerto Rican Brooklyn native in a subsequent deal with the Pelicans.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of net

Phrases Containing gross

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groping
gross
grossed
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Cite this Entry

“Gross.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gross. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gross

Nglish: Translation of gross for Spanish Speakers

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