1
as in pornographic
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
obscene gestures are totally inappropriate in the workplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
that ugly new store is really an obscene bit of architecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscene
Lawsuit alleges 'obscene' government overreach Longo's lawsuit, filed in Chemung County, New York, names the county, the city of Elmira and several DEC officers as defendants.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 July 2025
The court acknowledged that protecting minors from material that would be considered obscene from their perspective was a compelling government interest.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
But the Supreme Court ruled that states hold the power to prevent minors from seeing speech or content that is deemed obscene.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 June 2025
The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscene
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 July 2025
The court acknowledged that protecting minors from material that would be considered obscene from their perspective was a compelling government interest.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
But the Supreme Court ruled that states hold the power to prevent minors from seeing speech or content that is deemed obscene.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 June 2025
The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
-
Kruse and her co-conspirators are now on their fourth different set of lawyers in this dispute, and this is a disgusting publicity stunt by new counsel, as evidenced by the fact that the complaint and press release were sent to the press before the complaint was served.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
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The series sets the various human and humanoid segments of its cast on a direct course with the distinctly inhuman alien flora and fauna on the ship – there are some inventive little monsters aboard, disgusting and harrowing in their own special ways – to great effect.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Her choice to respond by telling me to 'shut the f*** up' and to 'calm my p*****' was vulgar, dismissive and escalated the issue entirely.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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As deadly wildfires raged across Southern California in January, a Los Angeles city official lamented to the city council and others how they were forced to listen to hateful, vulgar language from some members of the public.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Navy must address the ugly fact that, despite all the security America can provide, a diverse array of enemies, rivals and criminals can shut the Panama Canal down at virtually any time.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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In the ugliest defeat of a season belatedly compiling them, the New York Mets blew an early 6-0 lead Wednesday to fall to the Atlanta Braves 11-6.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Nationals put up a four-spot against Verlander, the backbreaker being CJ Abrams’ towering two-run shot off the right-field foul pole.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
10 Aug. 2025
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Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That said, the pitching is in an awful place right now, though rookie Chase Dollander’s performance Monday night at St. Louis was heartening.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
13 Aug. 2025
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This man has saved countless kids from being groomed, has raised awareness to millions about these condo games and the awful things pedophiles will do to get their hands on children, and he's comforted people literally just like me who've gone through the exact thing.—
Jill Duffy,
PC Magazine,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Whereas the Star Wars sequels woefully misused the actor's talents, this movie puts them center stage, playing one of the teen hoodlums who join forces with their victim to fight off nasty, otherworldly invaders.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Things could be reversed if prompt actions are taken to get vaccination rates back up again before the different nasty microbes can spread too far in the U.S. population.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The brazen and aggressive manhandling of Senator Padilla by the Trump administration is a sickening disgrace.—
Emma Marsden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
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The practice is one of a sickening array of battlefield mistreatments recorded on video either by Ukrainian surveillance drones or Russian servicemen and then circulated on social media.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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One of the canines was wrapped in a spring protruding from a broken, threadbare couch, and yelping for help when cops arrived at the filthy apartment in the Belmont section of the Bronx on Aug. 4, officials said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 Aug. 2025
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An image of the inside of the bunker, released by the sheriff’s office, showed a filthy mattress in a corner, a folding chair and a fan.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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