obscene

[ uh b-seen ]

/ əbˈsin /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR obscene ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

offensive to morality or decency; indecent; depraved: obscene language.

causing uncontrolled sexual desire.

abominable; disgusting; repulsive.

Nearby words

obreption, obrit, obrogation, obs, obs., obscene, obscenely, obscenity, obscurant, obscurantism, obscurantist

Origin of obscene

First recorded in 1585–95, obscene is from the Latin word obscēnus, obscaenus

Related forms

ob·scene·ly, adverbob·scene·ness, nounun·ob·scene, adjectiveun·ob·scene·ly, adverb

un·ob·scene·ness, noun

Can be confused

lewd obscene pornographic profanatory profane

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for obscene

In June, the executive offices of the Metropolitan Opera were broken into and graffitied with obscene messages.
Inside the Metropolitan Opera’s Insane Year|Shawn E. Milnes|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People who are constantly suppressing the urge to make the most obscene, offensive jokes that spring to mind.
The Case Against Cards Against Humanity: Is Max Temkin a Horrible Person? (Does It Matter?)|Arthur Chu|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anything involving that obscene level of cash will definitely have juicy stories behind it.
Speed Read: Kenneth Vogel’s ‘Big Money’ Shows How PACs Control Politics|William O’Connor|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A monumental political bombshell, his obscene downfall was a cinematic gimme, sure to set screenwriter hearts aflutter.
French Political Sex Movie About DSK Sets Cannes Aquiver|Tracy McNicoll|May 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

To Helms, LGBT Americans were “weak, morally sick wretches,” and AIDS education was “obscene” and “revolting.”
Ties to Secessionist Sympathizers? Don't Worry, Rand Paul Will Still Endorse You|Jamelle Bouie|December 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Houston said an obscene word under his breath, jammed his hat on his head, put on his coat, and left his apartment.
The Penal Cluster|Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)
The reviewer put an obscene construction upon it, and imputed to her his own malignant inference.
Bygones Worth Remembering, Vol. 1 (of 2)|George Jacob Holyoake
It was as though the mud in him had been stirred by an obscene hand.
Boy Woodburn|Alfred Ollivant
Others, round and squat, resembled the fat and obscene deities of Eastern religions.
The Rules of the Game|Stewart Edward White
In stanza 28 he has evidently not the smallest notion of the meaning of the word "obscene" as applied to ravens.
Ephemera Critica|John Churton Collins

British Dictionary definitions for obscene

obscene

/ (əbˈsiːn) /

adjective

offensive or outrageous to accepted standards of decency or modesty

law (of publications) having a tendency to deprave or corrupt

disgusting; repellentan obscene massacre

Derived Forms

obscenely, adverb

Word Origin for obscene

C16: from Latin obscēnus inauspicious, perhaps related to caenum filth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012