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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of obscene are coarse, gross, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," 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 might coarse be a better fit than obscene?

While the synonyms coarse and obscene are close in meaning, coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When is gross a more appropriate choice than obscene?

The words gross and obscene can be used in similar contexts, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

When would ribald be a good substitute for obscene?

The words ribald and obscene are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

In what contexts can vulgar take the place of obscene?

The synonyms vulgar and obscene are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 obscene Deputies found and arrested Betancourt, who was sentenced March 21 to six years and eight months in state prison for felony child abuse causing injury, felony domestic violence, witness intimidation, and possession of obscene matter depicting persons under age 18 engaged in lewd conduct. Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025 Lovable, charming and generous, yet temperamental, arrogant and obscene. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025 For others, pedestrianism was an appealing shortcut to fame or money in an era of expanding celebrity, an obscene gesture toward increasingly sedentary work life, or even a media boost. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2025 Depardieu allegedly used obscene language with her and was pulled away from her by bodyguards, according to the AP. Kc Baker, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
  • The fridge was smelly and disgusting before it was replaced about a week later.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2025
  • But that’s no excuse for using this disgusting word.
    Tommy McArdle, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • The biggest storyline in the series, however, has been all of the ugly hits and bad blood between the two state rivals.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Brinkley in her book describes one ugly scene when Joel, deep in his cups, ate a heap of spaghetti directly from a large pan on the stove, then vehemently kicked everyone out of the house for eating his pasta.
    Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Before the turn of the year, Manchester City were stuck in an awful rut.
    Sam Tighe, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Back when Michael Jordan owned the team, the Hornets once went 7-59 in a season so awful that a movie got made about it.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • That is exactly what the Giants need: nastier players on both sides of the ball.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And once the sickening jolts of the combat takeoff had ended and Bui slowly grew accustomed to the noise and the pressure of the C-130, the taste of KFC stopped his crying.
    Jennifer Brookland, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • To take but one example, the riots that convulsed swatches of England and Northern Ireland last year were fueled by social media accounts claiming sickening crimes by immigrants, amplified by right-wing accounts.
    David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Aurangzeb imprisoned his ailing father in 1658 and defeated his brother the year after, before forcibly parading him in chains on a filthy elephant on the streets of Delhi.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The network has ordered Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service, which will see the celebrity chef go undercover to rescue America’s filthiest restaurants.
    Peter White, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on obscene

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