Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective crass contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of crass are dense, dull, dumb, and stupid. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

When could dense be used to replace crass?

While in some cases nearly identical to crass, dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

In what contexts can dull take the place of crass?

While the synonyms dull and crass are close in meaning, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

When would dumb be a good substitute for crass?

The synonyms dumb and crass are sometimes interchangeable, but dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

When can stupid be used instead of crass?

The words stupid and crass are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm
stupid with drink

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 crass In my discussions with politicians, bureaucrats, and demographers in Japan last summer, many feared that the solution to the demographic crisis is far too crass to say out loud. Tom Le, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2025 Alfonso goes head-to-head against a crass but famous on social media CEO Shari de Jesus (Kyline Alcantara), who is being mentored by a powerful industry veteran Velma Imperial (Ruffa Gutierrez). Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2025 Trump sued Maher in 2013 for $5 million after the comedian made a crass joke about his mother and an orangutan. Steff Danielle Thomas, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025 Those other countries don’t seem to have the same proportion of crass blowhards in their political structure as the U.S. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crass
Adjective
  • In that sense, the vulgar Vader situation creates a touchy dilemma for Epic Games and Disney, which likely invested substantially in this high-profile collaboration.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
  • Amid the attention, the new pontiff's eldest brother has drawn scrutiny for social media posts praising Trump and using inflammatory, vulgar rhetoric toward Democrats and transgender people.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Hintz, meanwhile, got a rude welcome back early in Game 4 when Evan Bouchard slashed him right in the same area that Darnell Nurse injured him in Game 2.
    Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 27 May 2025
  • And in the case of fully autonomous EVs, it might be considered rude to expect human passengers to get out and cable a robotaxi to a supercharger for a quick top up on the way to the airport.
    Paul Ridden May 23, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Such a fund holds derivatives tied to the prices of a basket of physical assets—crude oil, natural gas, precious metals, base metals, grains, livestock.
    William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Subscribe The core inflation is expected to ease in the coming months due to lower crude oil prices and the yen’s appreciation, said Masato Koike, economist at Sompo Institute Plus.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Pulse until mixture is the consistency of a coarse meal.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
  • Designed to tackle even the coarsest hair, its ceramic blades deliver a clean, smooth shave every time.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Tranter and Bartlett said Trump may settle roughly into this range of having an approval rating between 43 percent and 47 percent given the intense polarization of the country, as has been common in the past couple administrations.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 31 May 2025
  • Ashley O’Neal, Founder at Summerside Creative Inc., adds that the demand is particularly common in hospitality.
    Kristen Bousquet, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crass. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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