obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē 

əb-,

 also  -ˈsē-

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene

Synonyms

• bawdiness
• blueness
• coarseness
• crudeness
• crudity
• dirt
• dirtiness
• filth
• filthiness
• foulness
• grossness
• impureness
• impurity
• indecency
• lasciviousness
• lewdness
• nastiness
• profanity
• raunch
• raunchiness
• ribaldry
• smut
• smuttiness
• vulgarity
• wantonness

Examples of obscenity in a Sentence

The author uses obscenity to make a point about the culture.

the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics

Recent Examples on the Web

Blackwell continued yelling slurs and obscenities at her and appeared to be pulling a knife when gas station patrons approached, the records say. —Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2024

In the footage released on social media showed Cardi yelling obscenities and throwing her shoe at Minaj while also leaving the event with no shoes and a knot on her forehead. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 2 Sep. 2024

There were episodes on figuring out if your child is a budding serial killer, as well as indecency and obscenity in music featuring Luther Campbell of 2 Live Crew, Dead Kennedys’ Jello Biafra, Plasmatics’ Wendy O Williams, and Suicidal Tendencies’ Mike Muir. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2024

The whole neighborhood would be able to hear Rose spout foul-mouthed obscenities and insults at others. —Rendy Jones, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obscenité "indecent words or images," borrowed from Latin obscēnitāt-, obscēnitās (obscaenitāt-, obscaenitās) "indecency, indecent language or behavior," from obscēnus, obscaenus "ill-omened, unpropitious, evoking disgust, indecent, lewd" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obscene

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing obscenity

• anti-obscenity

Kids Definition

obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈsen-ət-ē 

əb-

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something that is obscene

Legal Definition

obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē 

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene

also : obscene material