obscene
Americanadjective
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offensive to morality or decency; indecent; depraved.
obscene language.
-
causing uncontrolled sexual desire.
-
abominable; disgusting; repulsive.
adjective
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offensive or outrageous to accepted standards of decency or modesty
-
law (of publications) having a tendency to deprave or corrupt
-
disgusting; repellent
an obscene massacre
Other Word Forms
- obscenely adverb
- obsceneness noun
- unobscene adjective
- unobscenely adverb
- unobsceneness noun
Etymology
Origin of obscene
First recorded in 1585–95, obscene is from the Latin word obscēnus, obscaenus
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.
She spoke to the BBC last year about the "obscene amount of pressure" she felt under as a contestant on the show.
From BBC
Once AB 1831 goes into effect next year, AI-generated and digitally altered material will join other types of obscene child pornography in being illegal to knowingly possess, sell to adults or distribute to minors.
From Los Angeles Times
The post sent by a mysterious writer to Shiptonthorpe, some of which has been seen by the BBC, is described as “personal, obscene and targeted”.
From BBC
Moreover, when Sue wants to go out on the town, she dresses in a skin-tight snakeskin outfit and puts on some obscene Louboutins.
From Salon
That most of these disasters have preventable human causes makes the loss obscene.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
