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

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 vulgar Her involuntary outbursts cause Dupree to shout a number of things, such as comments about people around her and more vulgar language. —

Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025 Nearly 100% of the first film’s grosses were made in the U.S. — so few expected the spooky sequel about a vulgar poltergeist to connect in the territories across the pond and beyond this time around either. —

Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024 The vast majority of females in the book are described with vulgar disrespect by the various characters and the narrator. —

Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025 There is no excuse and no rationalization for a vulgar, inhumane act that senselessly took a life. —

David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vulgar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar

Adjective

The study also found that some commercial assessments from my office were too low.

— Fritz Kaegi, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
The chances of a human being bitten by a shark are incredibly low, according to the International Shark Attack File.

— Katie Hunt, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025