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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 The comments in screen shots of the chat room were demeaning and vulgar – as were the texts from the anonymous messenger who had sent her the images. Yoonjung Seo and Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025 Where once was the vulgar, now lies the Vulgate, a common relatable almost religious experience that all at Barclays seemed to feel. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2025 Truly, there is no one who does vulgar auteurism like Anderson. Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025 The Europeans were enchanted by the expressive fluency that the New York critics had considered vulgar. David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
  • Abarth is low cost, high return and should be encouraged.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • Still the newcomers flood in, attracted by the climate, lake and lower cost of living than other parts of the country.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • After the man told the boy to get out of the road, the juvenile responded with cursing and an obscene gesture, the report said.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
  • Stop into any local bakery and ask for their specialty, many of which contain obscene amounts of egg yolks.
    Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Oilers general manager Stan Bowman never really tried.
    Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • Valuation: Reasonable on Surface, Risky Underneath At first sight, Moderna’s valuation multiple, indicated by a P/S ratio of 3.2 times, seems neutral when compared to the broader market, aligning its valuation multiple with that of the general market.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Related Articles Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
  • Grand Theft Auto is famous for its crass, satirical sense of humor.
    Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • Because back nine is close to backside, and backside is just far too colloquial.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Russ Scholl, a ski instructor at Breckenridge Ski Resort, has published a 133-square grid of funky colloquial phrases for different types of snow.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Failing Forward Rather than retreat from this ignoble setback, Lee doubled down on his initial vision.
    Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • But for those who aren’t Third Reich completists, nor have any interest in historical fantasy that does little beyond embellishing Mengele’s ignoble reputation, this intellectually vacuous exercise can be tough to stomach — despite how well put together the whole thing is.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • Proctor sent a series of rude, lewd and unprofessional text messages about Read and the investigation, which led to his firing.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
  • There was also a three-homer game for Pablo Sandoval in the 2012 World Series, but it’s considered rude to talk about that in 2025.
    Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, was, in the vernacular, the real deal.
    Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • This eye-catching merger of the vernacular and the global — winding its way into the pavilion with wooden flooring, shelving and displays — will host discussions, performances and, hopefully, more impromptu gatherings.
    Sam Lubell, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vulgar

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