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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Dissimilar Words

gross

3 of 3

verb

as in to net

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Dissimilar Words

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

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
After making its debut last August 28 amid growing audience demand for premium experiences, the film has gone on to gross more than $400 million and sell more than 3 million tickets as of June, according to company figures. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 July 2026 The margin conversation goes deeper than gross and net profit. — Robert Indries, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Noun
In Belgium & Luxembourg, the film has passed 1 million euros, and in the Netherlands, its gross dropped just 9 percent weekend over weekend. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026 Without the light tropical boost from rum, the coconut water is flat and dull and honestly a little gross. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 27 June 2026
Verb
That film, of course, is Bohemian Rhapsody, which currently holds the all-time box office record as the highest grossing music biopic of all time with a worldwide box office tally of $911 million. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 The grocer didn’t respond to a request for comment, but a retail property expert familiar with store leases estimated that Erewhon would need to gross more than $1 million per week to cover the Culver City rent disclosed in the recent lawsuit. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 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
  • These stories were reprinted in Scottish and English botanical texts, and Henrietta would have known about the obscene ideas connected with the mushroom.
    — Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026
  • Jackson then allegedly drove over into another lane and swerved at the victim, while using an obscene hand gesture.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • As guests tuck in to homemade waffles topped with plump berries, the general manager talks about the history of the city’s oldest, continuously operating hotel — a landmark on the New River since 1936.
    — Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
  • Canned Pumpkin Canned pumpkin is an all-season alternative to the insides of a plump winter squash.
    — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026
Definition of plump
Adjective
  • Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a crass and charismatic oil executive who’s called upon to help save the world after his company nearly destroys it.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 July 2026
  • Like a more crass, animated Seinfeld, Rocko deals with the mundanities and absurdities of daily life.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Definition of crass
Adjective
  • The blatant ambition comes with its own drama; Holzinger’s work can feel rough around the edges, creating the sense that, at any level of a production, something might go very wrong.
    — Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • The first four players who played a backwards pass were met with a blatant elbow into the back.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of blatant
Adjective
  • The left's most hated author — JK Rowling — has dropped the hammer on the disgusting things that took place at the Indiana Fever-Seattle Storm game earlier this week.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
  • Or when some man behaving like a degenerate gambler plods into Chelsea Gray’s DMs with a disgusting slur.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of disgusting
Noun
  • Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals to 6 inches through Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida through southern Louisiana.
    — MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Counting signatures on a separate support letter written by non-STEM faculty, a total of about 3,300 professors are calling for a reinstatement of standardized testing.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of total
Noun
  • Gross profit margins, which came in at 48% of revenue (excluding the benefit of tariff refunds) in the most recent quarter, will come under pressure in the current quarter, Apple said.
    — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • Instead, its revenue is largely driven by iPhone sales –exactly the type of consistent and predictable business that appeals to investors.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of revenue
Verb
  • Outside of that move, one that netted Indiana a solid rotation player, every move made by the Pacers involved a piece on a lower-value contract.
    — Tony East, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • This, again, is a massive inflow of money to contracts and securities that net the investor no money on average and could have been allocated to the positive-sum equity market instead.
    — Derek Horstmeyer, Fortune, 31 July 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 1 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of gross for Spanish Speakers

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