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
Relevance
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
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 obscene
But Bondi said in July the Justice Department wouldn’t be releasing more documents about Epstein because the remaining records were obscene or named victims.
—
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
The male captain, 60-year-old Micheal Haak, was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act on the 2020 flight.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
Banners or signs may not be commercial in nature or obscene, or cause any disturbance to other fans.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Nov. 2025
The amount of money these disruptors-cum-media lords will fling around in order to get their paws all over fans’ data will be obscene, and the owners will want to wallow in it like hogs in the yummiest slop.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscene
Adjective
-
Until then, the only limits on their selections were Vimeo’s standard terms of service, which prohibit content that incites violence or qualifies as pornographic.—
-
Under a new law, Florida began requiring age verification checks for visitors to pornographic websites, notes Paul Bischoff, editor of Comparitech, a site that reviews personal cybersecurity software.—
Adjective
-
The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
-
Having snow, slush, and (eventually) water all over my floors was a disgusting feeling.—
Adjective
-
Although the Ripken card launched many conspiracy theories as to whether the inclusion of its vulgar phrase was truly a mistake or a Fleer marketing ploy, there is a long history of errors making it through quality control in sports card production.—
-
The joke swap during last year's Christmas episode went to some particularly jaw-dropping places after Che made Jost read a vulgar joke about Johansson.—
Adjective
-
Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.—
-
Sure, coach Mike Tomlin's teams tend to win ugly games, but not in the playoffs — at least not lately.—
Adjective
-
With about six minutes remaining in the second half, fans reacted unfavorably to a foul call against Spartans forward Jaxson Kohler.—
-
But the Warriors were unable to also overcome Curry piling up four fourth-quarter fouls, which led to his first foul-out since 2021.—
Adjective
-
The Hoosiers, of course, are the prime example of a longtime awful football program rising to the top.—
-
Mamdani hasn’t had time yet to flesh out his awful, socialist ideas into real policies that adversely affect New Yorkers.—
Adjective
-
The growth of passive investing, through index funds found in the 401(k) accounts of average Americans, has propped up the stock market while also potentially setting it up for a nasty fall.—
-
Instead of this stuff that's raised overseas that's done in ways that doesn't have any checks, that it's got polluted water, it's being fed really nasty stuff, full of antibiotics, full of chemicals.—
Adjective
-
Are there horrible smells wafting around?—
-
Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people.—
Cite this Entry
“Obscene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscene. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share