Obscenity is whatever happens to shock some elderly and ignorant magistrate.
Source: tatoeba (411795)
Obscenity
Synonyms for "obscenity" (187 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (38)
Noun(4 words)
abominabilityanimalitybad languagebasenessbawdinessbawdrybeastlinessbillingsgateblue languageblue moviecarnalitycarrionclitoromaniacoarsenesscolorful languageconcupiscencecontemptibilitycontrarietycorruptioncrassness
Strong matches (56)
dirty moviedirty namedirty talkdirty worddisgustingnessdysphemismearthinessepitheterotic arterotic literatureeroticismeroticomaniaerotographomaniaerotomaniaevil speakingexcrementexpletivefescenninityfilmfilth
Show 29 more words
filthinessfilthy languagefleshlinessfoul invectivefoul languagefoul matterfoulnessfulsomenessfuror uterinusgangrenegaudinessgoatishnessgrossnessgynecomaniaharshnesshatefulnessheinousnesshorninesshysteromaniaiconolagnyignobilityimpuritylasciviousnesslecherousnesslecherylewdnesslibidinousnesslickerishnessloathsomeness
Noun(6 words)
Adjective(1 words)
inappropriate language
Related words (93)
loudnesslubriciousnesslubricitylustlustfulnessmeretriciousnessmessmuckmucusnastinessnaughty wordnauseousnessno nono-nonoisomenessnoxiousnessnymphomaniaoathobjectionabilityobjectionableness
Show 59 more words
obnoxiousnessodiousnessoffensivenessordurepornographic artpornographic literaturepornographomaniapornographyprofane oathprofane swearingprofanitypruriencepruriencypusputridityputridnessrabelaisianismrandinessrawnessrebarbativenessrepellencerepellencyrepugnancerepulsivenessribaldryrotrottennessroughnessrudenesssalaciousnesssalacitysatyriasissatyrismscatologyscurfscurrilityscuzsensualitysexinesssexploitationsexualityskin flickslimesmutsmuttinesssnotsoft-core pornographystag filmstrong languageswearingswearwordunparliamentary languageunrepeatable expressionsunspeakablenessuteromaniavile languagevilenessvulgar languagex-rated movie
Noun(13 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: smut, abominability, animality, bad language, baseness.
- Sentence evidence is available for obscenity, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "obscenity".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "obscenity"
Keep "obscenity" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "obscenity" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "obscenity", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "obscenity" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesconstitutional categoryethical categoryexpressive qualityimproprietyindecencylegal conceptmoral conceptmoral standardmoral toneprofanitysocial offensesocial value
More specific
9 entriesexplicit depictionexplicit insultgraphic depictiongraphic profanitygross obscenityhardcore materialprurient mattervisual obscenityvulgar language
Collocations
6 entriesobscene contentobscene materialobscenity lawsobscenity standardobscenity trialpublic obscenity
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
In court facing charges of obscenity, the American actress Mae West was asked by the judge if she was trying to show disrespect to the court, whereupon she answered, "No, your honor, I'm trying not to show it".
Source: tatoeba (585003)
That is an obscenity!
Source: tatoeba (1103046)
Warning, no obscenity.
Source: tatoeba (5733689)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "obscenity"?
Closest matches include smut, abominability, animality, bad language, baseness.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "obscenity"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.