obscenity

[uhb-sen-i-tee, -see-ni-] / əbˈsɛn ɪ ti, -ˈsi nɪ- /

NOUN

indecency, immorality; vulgarism

Synonyms

STRONGEST

four-letter word indecency pornography profanity smut vulgarity

STRONG

abomination affront atrocity bawdiness blight blueness coarseness curse dirtiness evil filthiness foulness immodesty impropriety impurity indelicacy lewdness licentiousness lubricity offense outrage porn prurience salacity scatology scurrility sleaze smuttiness swearword vileness wrong

WEAK

X-rating dirty name dirty word suggestiveness

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decency

STRONG

blessing compliment delight goodness happiness joy kindness pleasantry right virtue

WEAK

cleanness innocence morality propriety purity uprightness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That this is a grotesque obscenity and cannot be allowed to continue?

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2026

Today’s publishers aren’t much constrained by obscenity laws.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Maybe it’s just a vibe, or as Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once wrote about obscenity: “I know it when I see it.”

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

"An obscenity which makes unionist buy-in impossible," he said in a statement.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025

The unspeakable malevolence of the message is now buried deep inside the word, and out on the surface it presents itself as merely an obscenity.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Vocabulary lists containing obscenity

Journalism

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The Great Gilly Hopkins

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

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