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Synonyms

obscene

American  
[uhb-seen] / əbˈsin /

adjective

  1. offensive to morality or decency; indecent; depraved.

    obscene language.

  2. causing uncontrolled sexual desire.

  3. abominable; disgusting; repulsive.

obscene British  
/ əbˈsiːn /

adjective

  1. offensive or outrageous to accepted standards of decency or modesty

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

  3. disgusting; repellent

    an obscene massacre
"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

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.

His trolling, however, may well draw the attention of President Trump, who was clearly the intended audience for this obscene Supreme Court audition.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2026

But the Shah was a problematic figure, obscene in his displays of wealth and ruthless in his suppression of dissent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

And she doesn't mince her words about how long it's taken a female British painter to get a solo show in the Royal Academy's main galleries, calling it "obscene" and "historically quite extraordinary".

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

“Does that sound fantastical? Yes, it totally sounds fantastical. That’s why it’s obscene and conspicuous and unbelievable, because it’s probably never going to happen.”

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 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.