obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈse-nə-tē 
əb-,
also -ˈsē-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene
Examples of obscenity in a Sentence
The author uses obscenity to make a point about the culture.
the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
Recent Examples on the Web
Police received multiple reports related to juveniles consuming alcohol, noise, obscenities being shouted, and more, according to Florida Today, part of USA TODAY Network.
—
Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
Though this form of censorship has since been deemed unconstitutional by various U.S. Supreme Court decisions, debates over what constitutes obscenity, child pornography and artistic expression persist.
—Amy Werbel, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
The house, formerly inhabited by Russian soldiers, exhibited the obscenities of forceful dispossession.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Naked Lunch was banned in Boston and Los Angeles under obscenity statutes.
—Ira Silverberg, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
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.
Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
Though this form of censorship has since been deemed unconstitutional by various U.S. Supreme Court decisions, debates over what constitutes obscenity, child pornography and artistic expression persist.
—Amy Werbel, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
The house, formerly inhabited by Russian soldiers, exhibited the obscenities of forceful dispossession.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Naked Lunch was banned in Boston and Los Angeles under obscenity statutes.
—Ira Silverberg, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for obscenity
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscenity. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈsen-ət-ē
əb-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something that is obscene
Legal Definition
obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈse-nə-tē
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene
also
: obscene material
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share