1
as in vulgarity
the quality or state of being obscene
the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
uttered a loud obscenity when he dropped the hammer on his toe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscenity
Other states don’t allow numerical digits, obscenity, or names of people who have committed atrocities, according to US Birth Certificates.
—
Anna Halkidis, Parents, 23 Jan. 2025
The reason the rabbit vibrator is called this was to get around obscenity laws in Japan when the products were exported.
—Amanda Chatel, Glamour, 19 Feb. 2025
City Manager Dan Dugger’s recent behavior — walking down from the chambers to confront a civilian in a threatening manner, yelling obscenities, and ultimately being restrained by law enforcement — is not just a single lapse in judgment.
—Dominick Vargas, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Police received multiple reports related to juveniles consuming alcohol, noise, obscenities being shouted, and more, according to Florida Today, part of USA TODAY Network.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Anna Halkidis, Parents, 23 Jan. 2025
The reason the rabbit vibrator is called this was to get around obscenity laws in Japan when the products were exported.
—Amanda Chatel, Glamour, 19 Feb. 2025
City Manager Dan Dugger’s recent behavior — walking down from the chambers to confront a civilian in a threatening manner, yelling obscenities, and ultimately being restrained by law enforcement — is not just a single lapse in judgment.
—Dominick Vargas, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Police received multiple reports related to juveniles consuming alcohol, noise, obscenities being shouted, and more, according to Florida Today, part of USA TODAY Network.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscenity
Noun
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The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
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The real marvel, in this instance, being the avoidance of vulgarity.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Homewood’s location on the western shore of Lake Tahoe is both a blessing and a curse.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
4 Apr. 2025
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The annual cost-of-living adjustment Social Security recipients receive is both a blessing and a curse.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Could a nice good swear on the pitch to express one’s anger stop a player from lashing out physically, channelling their anger through their vocal cords rather than their fists?—
Nick Miller,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The station asked the band not to include the swears.—
Kris Holt,
Forbes,
2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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And the American president used profanities over how Israel carried out the war in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.—
Luke Broadwater,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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The uncensored version was initially available on Peacock Sunday morning but was later replaced with an edited version that removed the profanity.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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That echoes language used by former President Joe Biden, who championed US alliances and sought to bring American partners in Asia closer together on security cooperation in the face of what the US sees as a growing security threat from Beijing.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
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The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Noun
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Aside from the claims of overall impropriety and indecency, the men have made other individual claims against the chief.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Less than two years later in 1977, he was convicted of indecency with a 12-year-old girl and served just over three years in prison.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Many of us try to suppress the urge to blurt out an expletive when something goes wrong.—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
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The notes named a woman, with expletives and accusations written about her, according to court records.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscenity. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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