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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 Climate change vandals spray-painted a Tesla car dealership in Manhattan on Tuesday to protest Elon Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but as police arrived, the activists could be seen cleaning off some of the vulgar writing. Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025 Two of the protesters are facing counts including obstructing a law enforcement officer and simple battery on a law enforcement officer, while a third has been charged with using vulgar language, according to Acworth police. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
  • In fact, with one of the lowest average ages in the whole of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain this season has become a team known for its young, hardworking and likeable core group of players – Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Barcola and Doué have all garnered plaudits.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
  • Per Trump’s promise, the proposal leaves Title I (support for schools with low income students) and IDEA (funding for students with special needs) intact.
    Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Venis’s obscene wealth justifies an unbridled narcissism that reflects our worst fears of tech moguls.
    Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 28 May 2025
  • In December 2014, a jury convicted Magnotta of first-degree murder, committing an indignity to a human body, publishing obscene material and mailing obscene and indecent material.
    Jessica Sager, People.com, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • Pecans Pecans — as well as nuts in general — are a great item to buy in bulk at Costco.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • One former board member was Bean’s secretary, who had donated money to his wife’s campaigns for Knox County circuit, general sessions and juvenile court clerk, according to Betty Bean and local news reports at the time.
    Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • But beyond the crass remarks about Read, experts say less explosive messages about Proctor's early opinions of the investigation could be damning.
    Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025
  • What keeps these series from coming off as crass is the genuine camaraderie that connects their characters and shelters them, to some extent, from the precariousness of their lives.
    Judy Berman, Time, 22 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
  • Hintz, meanwhile, got a rude welcome back early in Game 4 when Evan Bouchard slashed him right in the same area that Darnell Nurse injured him in Game 2.
    Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 27 May 2025
  • And in the case of fully autonomous EVs, it might be considered rude to expect human passengers to get out and cable a robotaxi to a supercharger for a quick top up on the way to the airport.
    Paul Ridden May 23, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • For Forbes, learning the defense itself wasn’t as intensive as understanding the Rams’ techniques and vernacular.
    Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
  • Originally appearing in Latin or Greek, several stories of transgender saints made their way into vernacular languages.
    Sarah Barringer, The Conversation, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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