obscenity

[ uhb-sen-i-tee, -see-ni- ]

noun

, plural ob·scen·i·ties

1. the character or quality of being obscene; indecency; lewdness.
2. something obscene, as a picture or story.
3. an obscene word or expression, especially when used as an invective.

   Synonyms: swear word, profanity, oath, cussword, cuss, curse word, curse

obscenity

/ əbˈsɛnɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being obscene
2. an obscene act, statement, word, etc

obscenity

1. Behavior, appearance, or expression (such as films and books) that violate accepted standards of sexual morality. American courts have long tried to define obscenity but without much success. Some believe, for example, that any depiction of nudity is obscene; others would argue that nudity in itself is not obscene. ( See four-letter words (see also four-letter words ) and pornography .)

Other Words From

• anti·ob·sceni·ty noun plural antiobscenities adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obscenity¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from French obscenité, from Latin obscēnitās, equivalent to obscēn(us) obscene + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

Benson said she experienced threats first-hand when people "shouting obscenities and graphic threats into bullhorns in the dark of night" arrived outside her home in December 2020 after election results were certified in Michigan.

From Axios

We also see that reflected in the rolling obscenity of global vaccine distribution, where vaccines have been allocated in a non-coordinated fashion, oblivious to human need and often driven by foreign policy imperatives.

From Time

The fight over the obscenity of trying to remove Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Beloved” from a school library.

From Washington Blade

The attacks come on the heels of an increase in incidents in which passengers have shouted obscenities, pushed and shoved flight attendants, harassed other passengers or even attempted to open the cockpit door.

From Washington Post

Other video showed a Border Patrol agent on a horse shouting an obscenity as he tried to clear a child away.

From Washington Post

Some might say there is also an obscenity to it, given the amount of poverty in the world.

From The Daily Beast

Among these are obscenity, defamation, fighting words, express incitement to unlawful conduct, and threats.

From The Daily Beast

One trucker did shout an obscenity, and a musclebound mechanic told them to go and do something useful like study.

From The Daily Beast

An Alabama obscenity law passed in 1998 made the sale of most sex toys illegal in the state.

From The Daily Beast

Coined “obscenity regulations,” on face value they appear to ban material that “depicts or describes sexual misconduct.”

From The Daily Beast

They rebelled at the immorality of his conduct and the obscenity of his writings; and he resolved that they should accept both.

From Project Gutenberg

The charge was "obscenity," and they had been arrested at the instance of Anthony Comstock.

From Project Gutenberg

Another feature in common is the rank realism and open obscenity which marked the humours of both species.

From Project Gutenberg

That means losing ground at an increasing rate to the obscenity crawling over our planet.

From Project Gutenberg

Aaron Stoltzfoos dropped the lantern to his side, amazed that the dignified old man could be guilty of such an obscenity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• four-letter word
• indecency
• pornography
• profanity
• smut
• vulgarity