1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
bystanders were shocked by the lewd behavior of the couple in the park
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passionate
having a strong sexual desire
a lewd 18th-century nobleman who left behind hundreds of erotic love letters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in suggestive
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent
a nearby diner kept telling lewd jokes until we told him to shut up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
lewd conduct
a lewd grin
lewd material
lewd suggestions
scandalous suggestions
smutty suggestions
perverse suggestions
racy suggestions
depraved suggestions
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 lewd
The lewd acts were allegedly committed against a girl between Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 in 2024.
—
Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
The Twin Rivers Unified School District Police Department received a lewd conduct report about an incident involving Wilson, then a fifth-grade teacher, and a juvenile in 2019 and forwarded it to Sacramento police.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025
The investigation was commissioned after a 2023 report by The Wall Street Journal, which documented strip club visits, lewd messages, heavy drinking and bullying at the government agency.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 27 Feb. 2025
All of the suspects were charged with the felonies of contacting a minor for lewd purposes and arranging a meeting with a minor for the same offense.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lewd
Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
The Twin Rivers Unified School District Police Department received a lewd conduct report about an incident involving Wilson, then a fifth-grade teacher, and a juvenile in 2019 and forwarded it to Sacramento police.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025
The investigation was commissioned after a 2023 report by The Wall Street Journal, which documented strip club visits, lewd messages, heavy drinking and bullying at the government agency.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 27 Feb. 2025
All of the suspects were charged with the felonies of contacting a minor for lewd purposes and arranging a meeting with a minor for the same offense.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lewd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lewd
Adjective
-
Taken by the apparent deterioration of his health, users made those clips go viral and eventually adapted the money spread into a mini-dance trend where users bop to the song before flaunting an obscene amount of cash (or weed baggies or fishing lures!).—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
19 Mar. 2025
-
But there are more visible and indecent »Paris Game« leftovers: the enormous/obscene sportsbook ads on display at every other métro station.—
Eduardo Tansley,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Beyond his impressive accomplishments on the field, Jake brings a passionate, competitive spirit and leadership qualities that align perfectly with our organizational values.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Despite some of the passionate opposition, the committee voted 6-2 in favor of the bill on Tuesday.—
Heather Hunter,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Its Monday grosses topped its Saturday receipts — unusual for any film and suggestive of the idea that the release is gaining strength.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 2025
-
The results were suggestive but silly—streetwear for Wallace and Gromit.—
Rebecca Mead,
The New Yorker,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And in the dead of Southern summers, the last thing any sleeper wants to encounter is being hot, and that’s where science steps in.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
23 Mar. 2025
-
In fact, tiny homes have recently become a hot topic for this very reason, and Amazon is actually surprisingly stocked with a multitude of cozy (and customizable) options at far more budget-friendly prices than a full-sized house.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This venue is open 24 hours a day with a menu of complimentary bar snacks like pretzel bites with spicy mustard, bowls of chili and burgers.—
Ramsey Qubein,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Fiery chili-crisp pasta, spicy cocoa shrimp, beef mala hot pot, and more tingle-inducing recipes.—
Carly Westerfield,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Over time, authorities also sidelined activities like sumo wrestling—considered vulgar by Westerners—in favor of baseball, boating, mountain climbing, and other activities popular in the West.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Nembhard was ejected later in overtime for using vulgar language towards an official twice.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
William Francis Chatel was arrested Tuesday, March 11, and charged with lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years of age, according to online court records.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
-
William Chatel of Rhode Island is facing a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years of age, according to Orange County records.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
With one out and a runner on first, Alves read the ball and sprinted from his position at third base for a diving catch in foul territory for the second out.—
Jacob Steinberg,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The play occurred in the sixth inning when the ball was hit into foul territory.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lewd. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share