1
2
3
4
5

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 In 2017, following an overwhelming number of complaints from visitors and storekeepers about vulgar language and intimidation tactics, the city had to once again enforce an ordinance to keep the hawkers in separate areas. Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025 The prince’s daughter Concetta is initially enamored of Tancredi, but his eye is caught by the beautiful Angelica, daughter of vulgar nouveau riche neighbor Don Calogero. Anthony Paletta, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025 The intrigue: A couple was having quite a loud, vulgar kickup about drug prescriptions in the booth near me before they were silenced by a mall cop on a Segway. Mike Deehan, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025 Over time, authorities also sidelined activities like sumo wrestling—considered vulgar by Westerners—in favor of baseball, boating, mountain climbing, and other activities popular in the West. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vulgar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgar
Adjective
  • The survey's measure of consumer sentiment dropped to a level lower than at any point during the Great Recession.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Trust Is Built In Small Moments Like This For a co-op like Cabot Creamery, maintaining consumer trust means being transparent—even when the stakes are low.
    Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Deputies found and arrested Betancourt, who was sentenced March 21 to six years and eight months in state prison for felony child abuse causing injury, felony domestic violence, witness intimidation, and possession of obscene matter depicting persons under age 18 engaged in lewd conduct.
    Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Lovable, charming and generous, yet temperamental, arrogant and obscene.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Mélanie Turpin has been named general manager of human resources.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The Denver Nuggets have released a statement on the firing of head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump sued Maher in 2013 for $5 million after Maher made a crass joke about Trump’s mother and an orangutan.
    Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025
  • He’s been accused of misogyny, thanks to his occasionally crass and combative online takes.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 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
  • There’s an ignoble tradition of falsified memoirs.
    Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Until then, there are the Razzies, an ignoble accolade marking the very worst movies and acting performances of the year.
    Marco della Cava, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • My question: Was there any way to have prevented this rude woman from stealing away all of my guests? GENTLE READER: Counter-questions: Did the boss and his wife drop the guests off before the emergency furniture move?
    Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Really, any movie exceeding 100 minutes in this genre is just plain rude.
    Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This therapist speaks in a very specific kind of vernacular.
    EW.com, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • With Elordi’s star on the rise, that can only be a matter of time, even if the slangy vernacular of the wartime sections will require subtitles.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgar. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vulgar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!