1
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
paintings that appeal to vulgar tastes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
a warning about the movie's vulgar language
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in general
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
the vulgar opinion is that the nation is in decline
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4
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste
vulgar behavior shown by someone who's made a lot of money and wants everyone to know it
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5
as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
Latin was once the language of scholars, and English the vulgar language used by the common people
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vulgar
Arena, like the adjacent club called Circus, was established by a couple of gay and Latino entrepreneurs as open-to-everyone party spaces — a radical departure during an era when discos were defined more by the vulgar discrimination of velvet ropes and vain bouncers policing entry.
—
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Open-toed shoes, while tempting, are considered vulgar in certain circles.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 May 2025
The survey examined a minimum of 1,000 comments per team and found less than 1% of posts made by fans of the Dallas Wings contained swear words or vulgar comments.
—Alyssa Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025
The program was incredibly close-knit—kids practiced most days of the week, and hung out almost exclusively with their fellow All-Stars, as well as with the vulgar, charismatic teacher who structured their lives.
—Air Mail, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Open-toed shoes, while tempting, are considered vulgar in certain circles.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 May 2025
The survey examined a minimum of 1,000 comments per team and found less than 1% of posts made by fans of the Dallas Wings contained swear words or vulgar comments.
—Alyssa Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025
The program was incredibly close-knit—kids practiced most days of the week, and hung out almost exclusively with their fellow All-Stars, as well as with the vulgar, charismatic teacher who structured their lives.
—Air Mail, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
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But the three-time Oscar winner makes the most out of every line reading, not by going big (a near impossibility in an Anderson movie) but by setting Felicity’s fears and annoyances to a very low simmer.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
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Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The obscene cost of healthcare has pushed manufacturers offshore and kept wages stagnant for decades.—
Ro Khanna,
Twin Cities,
12 June 2025
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In Tacoma, 35 miles to the south, Ted Bundy grew up near the American Smelting and Refining Co., which disgorged obscene levels of lead and arsenic into the air while netting millions for the Guggenheim dynasty before its 1986 closure.—
Hamilton Cain,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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This choice was made to avoid general concepts and clichés about Indigenous peoples and to show that each people is a universe in itself, unique, with its own aesthetic, cultural, social and political repertoire.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
7 June 2025
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Among folks in the business, there is a general sense of Hacks as a funny show featuring great performances, made by incredibly likable people in Downs, Aniello, and Statsky.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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But beyond the crass remarks about Read, experts say less explosive messages about Proctor's early opinions of the investigation could be damning.—
Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2025
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What keeps these series from coming off as crass is the genuine camaraderie that connects their characters and shelters them, to some extent, from the precariousness of their lives.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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So what follows is the colloquial Q&A, more or less unedited, from my email exchange with that reporter.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope Trollope is a more colloquial writer.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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And bugs’ ignoble practices exert fascination on poets too.—
Hannah Brooks-Motl
June 2,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2025
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Within hours, your unscrupulous corporate rivals bask in ignoble victory.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Carry-on rules exist for a reason and deliberately ignoring the rules is both rude and inconsiderate to everyone else who is.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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Matthews walked out of the home to talk to the suspect but returned to the house, saying Hoskins-Ellis said something rude to him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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For Forbes, learning the defense itself wasn’t as intensive as understanding the Rams’ techniques and vernacular.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
28 May 2025
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Originally appearing in Latin or Greek, several stories of transgender saints made their way into vernacular languages.—
Sarah Barringer,
The Conversation,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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