VULGAR Synonyms: 315 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'vulgar' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of vulgar are coarse , gross , obscene , and ribald . While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding. // a loud vulgar belch

Q: When is it sensible to use 'coarse' instead of 'vulgar'?

While the synonyms coarse and vulgar are close in meaning, coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language. // found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

Q: When might 'gross' be a better fit than 'vulgar'?

The synonyms gross and vulgar are sometimes interchangeable, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness. // gross eating habits

Q: In what contexts can 'obscene' take the place of 'vulgar'?

While in some cases nearly identical to vulgar , obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters. // obscene language not allowed on the air

Q: Where would 'ribald' be a reasonable alternative to 'vulgar'?

In some situations, the words ribald and vulgar are roughly equivalent. However, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent. // entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

vulgar

adjective

ˈvəl-gər

Definition of vulgar next

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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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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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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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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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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Synonym Chooser

How is the word vulgar different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of vulgar are coarse, gross, obscene, and ribald. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

When is it sensible to use coarse instead of vulgar?

While the synonyms coarse and vulgar are close in meaning, coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When might gross be a better fit than vulgar?

The synonyms gross and vulgar are sometimes interchangeable, but gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

In what contexts can obscene take the place of vulgar?

While in some cases nearly identical to vulgar, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

Where would ribald be a reasonable alternative to vulgar?

In some situations, the words ribald and vulgar are roughly equivalent. However, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

Examples 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 vulgar As Vice President, Biden was a string of unforced errors, most notably at a bill signing for the law now known as Obamacare where he was caught on a hot-mic deploying vulgar language. —

Philip Elliott, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024 And in the past several days, Musk and his super PAC have grown more vulgar and violent in their language about Harris. —

David Ingram, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024 Elon Musk's pro-Donald Trump political action committee (PAC) recently released an inflammatory ad targeting Vice President Kamala Harris that referenced a vulgar term considered derogatory to women. —

Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 Yes, but: While Democrats hammer Trump on his recent vulgar and sometimes violent rhetoric, House Speaker Mike Johnson brushed the comments aside Sunday as typical hyperbole. —

Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vulgar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar

Adjective

Put your energy into achieving your goals and fend off interference by keeping a low profile and making every move count.

Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
That has got to be an incredibly low bar in a Challenge house.

Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024