SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
obscene
adjective
Grossly offensive or indecent, especially in language or sexual expression.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Grossly offensive or indecent
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThis group covers ordinary use. Obscene can have a narrower technical legal meaning in a particular jurisdiction.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See obscene in use
The moderator removed an obscene comment from the public discussion.
An obscene insult in an early draft used grossly indecent language that overwhelmed the scene rather than developing the disagreement between its characters.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license