obscene
Americanadjective
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offensive to morality or decency; indecent; depraved.
obscene language.
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causing uncontrolled sexual desire.
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abominable; disgusting; repulsive.
adjective
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offensive or outrageous to accepted standards of decency or modesty
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law (of publications) having a tendency to deprave or corrupt
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disgusting; repellent
an obscene massacre
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of obscene
First recorded in 1585–95, obscene is from the Latin word obscēnus, obscaenus
Explanation
Obscene describes something that is morally offensive in a sexual way. It's never a good idea to use obscene language at school. Certain films, books, magazines, and other forms of entertainment are considered obscene because they portray sex in a very frank way that some people find vulgar and lewd. Obscene material, language, and jokes are considered taboo in polite society. Obscene can also be used to describe something repulsive — like when your friend ate an obscene number of snails at the Bastille Day bash.
Vocabulary lists containing obscene
Speak
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Prince (1958-2016) Tribute List
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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 2
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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.
"People are tired of being treated without dignity, without respect. And these companies are making an obscene amount of money," he said at a press conference Wednesday, before breaking down in tears.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
Ultimately, books were removed “not because they contain sexually obscene material, but because they contain content protected by law,” Graves said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Both of these famous women have long fought to be humanized while also marketing an obscene amount of stuff to us.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
The look she gave the car as we passed was priceless—a look of sudden, obscene envy, mingled with a kind of fury.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
“I’d rather not ask the obscene motive for this. I’d like to think that you’re attempting to make amends in your simple way for slandering me on my dismal first day with this ludicrous wagon.”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
