If you describe something as vulgar, you think it is in bad taste or of poor artistic quality.
[disapproval]
I think it's a very vulgar house.
The film is tasteless, vulgar and even badly shot.
Synonyms: tasteless, common, flashy, low More Synonyms of vulgar
vulgarity (vʌlgærɪti)uncountable noun
I hate the vulgarity of this room. [+ of]
Synonyms: coarseness, roughness, boorishness, rudeness More Synonyms of vulgar
Synonyms: crudeness, rudeness, coarseness, crudity More Synonyms of vulgar
Synonyms: tastelessness, bad taste, grossness, tawdriness More Synonyms of vulgar
2. adjective
If you describe pictures, gestures, or remarks as vulgar, you dislike them because they refer to sex or parts of the body in a rude way that you find unpleasant.
[disapproval]
The women laughed coarsely at some vulgar jokes.
The lyrics were vulgar.
vulgarityuncountable noun
There's a good deal of vulgarity.
Synonyms: coarseness, roughness, boorishness, rudeness More Synonyms of vulgar
Synonyms: crudeness, rudeness, coarseness, crudity More Synonyms of vulgar
3. adjective
If you describe a person or their behaviour as vulgar, you mean that they lack taste or behave rudely.
[disapproval]
He was a vulgar old man, but he never swore in front of a woman.
'Don't be vulgar,' she reprimanded.
Synonyms: uncouth, boorish, unrefined, impolite More Synonyms of vulgar
vulgarityuncountable noun
It's his vulgarity that I can't take.
Synonyms: coarseness, roughness, boorishness, rudeness More Synonyms of vulgar
Synonyms: crudeness, rudeness, coarseness, crudity More Synonyms of vulgar
More Synonyms of vulgar
vulgar in British English
(ˈvʌlɡə)
adjective
1.
marked by lack of taste, culture, delicacy, manners, etc
vulgar behaviour
vulgar language
2. (often capital; usually prenominal)
denoting a form of a language, esp of Latin, at a period when the formal language is archaic and not in general spoken use
3. archaic
a.
of, relating to, or current among the great mass of ordinary people, in contrast to the educated, cultured, or privileged
b.
(as collective noun; preceded by the)
the vulgar
Derived forms
vulgarly (ˈvulgarly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin vulgāris belonging to the multitude, from vulgus the common people
vulgar in American English
(ˈvʌlgər)
adjective
1.
of, characteristic of, belonging to, or common to the great mass of people in general; common; popular
a vulgar superstition
2.
designating, of, or in the popular, or vernacular, speech
3.
a.
characterized by a lack of culture, refinement, taste, restraint, sensitivity, etc.; coarse; crude; boorish
b.
indecent or obscene
SIMILAR WORDS: coarse, ˈcommon
Derived forms
vulgarly (ˈvulgarly)
adverb
Word origin
ME < L vularis < vulgus, volgus, the common people < IE base *wel-, to crowd, throng > Gr eilein, to press, swarm
Quotations
It's worse than wicked, my dear, it's vulgarPunch
In other languages
vulgar
British English: vulgar /ˈvʌlɡə/ ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as vulgar, you think it is in bad taste or of poor artistic quality.
I think it's a very vulgar house.
American English: vulgar
Arabic: سُوْقِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: vulgar
Chinese: 粗俗的
Croatian: vulgaran
Czech: nevkusný
Danish: vulgær
Dutch: vulgair
European Spanish: vulgar
Finnish: rahvaanomainen
French: vulgaire
German: vulgär
Greek: χυδαίος
Italian: volgare
Japanese: 低俗な
Korean: 저속한
Norwegian: vulgær
Polish: wulgarny
European Portuguese: ordinário
Romanian: vulgar
Russian: вульгарный
Latin American Spanish: vulgar
Swedish: vulgär
Thai: หยาบคาย ขาดความประณีต
Turkish: kaba insan
Ukrainian: вульгарний
Vietnamese: tục tĩu
Chinese translation of 'vulgar'
vulgar
(ˈvʌlɡəʳ)
adj
(= rude)[person, joke, gesture]粗俗的 (cūsú de)
(= tasteless)[decor, design]庸俗的 (yōngsú de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
showing lack of good taste, decency, or refinement
The decor is ugly, tasteless and vulgar.
Synonyms
tasteless
spectacularly tasteless objets d'art
common
flashy
a flashy sports car
low
That was a really low trick.
gross
That's a disgusting thing to say – you're so gross!
nasty
gaudy
a gaudy orange-and-purple hat
tawdry
tawdry jewellery
cheap and nasty
common as muck
Opposites
elegant
,
tasteful
,
high-brow
,
classical
2 (adjective)
Definition
showing lack of good taste, decency, or refinement
a TV show well known for its vulgar jokes
Synonyms
crude
a crude sense of humour
dirty
He laughed at their dirty jokes.
rude
He made a rude gesture with his finger.
low
The film's low comedy is never unlikeable.
blue
blue movies
nasty
There's no need for such nasty language.
naughty
a comedy routine crammed with naughty innuendo
coarse
He has a very coarse sense of humour.
indecent
She accused him of making indecent suggestions.
improper
The politicians denied any improper behaviour.
suggestive
An employee claimed he made suggestive remarks.
tasteless
a tasteless remark
risqué
a cheeky comment or a risqué suggestion
off colour
ribald
her ribald comments about a guest's body language
indelicate
She could not touch upon such an indelicate subject.
indecorous
3 (adjective)
Definition
showing lack of good taste, decency, or refinement
He could be really vulgar, but he never swore in front of his parents.
Synonyms
uncouth
that oafish, uncouth person
boorish
the boorish behaviour of some players
unrefined
an unrefined boor
impolite
It would be most impolite to refuse a simple invitation to supper.
ill-bred
They seemed to her rather vulgar and ill-bred.
unmannerly
Opposites
sophisticated
,
refined
,
polite
,
upper-class
,
aristocratic
,
genteel
,
urbane
,
decorous
,
well-mannered
4 (adjective)
Definition
denoting a form of a language spoken by the ordinary people, rather than the literary form
translated from Latin into the vulgar tongue
Synonyms
vernacular
dialects such as black vernacular English
native
French is not my native tongue.
common
She might be a little common at times, but she was certainly not boring.
general
This book is intended for the general reader rather than the student.
ordinary
It was just an ordinary day for us.
Quotation
It's worse than wicked, my dear, it's vulgar [Punch]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blue
Definition
pornographic
blue movies
Synonyms
smutty,
dirty,
naughty,
obscene,
indecent,
vulgar,
lewd,
risqué,
X-rated (informal),
bawdy,
near the knuckle (informal)
in the sense of boorish
the boorish behaviour of some players
Synonyms
loutish,
gross,
crude,
rude,
hick (informal, US, Canadian),
coarse,
vulgar,
rustic,
barbaric,
churlish,
uneducated,
bearish,
uncouth,
unrefined,
uncivilized,
clownish,
oafish,
lubberly
in the sense of coarse
Definition
unrefined or indecent
He has a very coarse sense of humour.
Synonyms
vulgar,
offensive,
rude,
indecent,
improper,
raunchy (informal),
earthy,
foul-mouthed,
bawdy,
impure,
smutty,
impolite,
ribald,
immodest,
indelicate
Synonyms of 'vulgar'
vulgar
Explore 'vulgar' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of common
Definition
low-class, vulgar, or coarse
She might be a little common at times, but she was certainly not boring.
Synonyms
vulgar,
low,
inferior,
coarse,
plebeian
in the sense of dirty
Definition
obscene
He laughed at their dirty jokes.
Synonyms
obscene,
rude,
coarse,
indecent,
blue (old-fashioned),
offensive,
gross,
filthy,
vulgar,
pornographic,
sleazy,
suggestive,
lewd,
risqué,
X-rated (informal),
bawdy,
salacious,
smutty,
off-colour,
unwholesome,
page-three (old-fashioned)
in the sense of flashy
Definition
showy in a vulgar way
a flashy sports car
Synonyms
showy,
loud,
over the top (informal),
flamboyant,
brash,
tacky (informal),
flaunting,
glitzy (slang),
tasteless,
naff (British, slang),
gaudy,
garish,
jazzy (informal),
tawdry,
ostentatious,
snazzy (informal),
glittery,
meretricious,
cheap and nasty,
in poor taste,
tinselly,
bling (slang)
in the sense of gaudy
Definition
vulgarly bright or colourful
a gaudy orange-and-purple hat
Synonyms
garish,
bright,
glaring,
vulgar,
brilliant,
flash (informal),
loud,
brash,
tacky (informal),
flashy,
tasteless,
jazzy (informal),
tawdry,
showy,
gay (old-fashioned),
ostentatious,
raffish (archaic),
brummagem (archaic),
florid
in the sense of general
Definition
not specialized or specializing
This book is intended for the general reader rather than the student.
Synonyms
ordinary,
regular,
usual,
typical,
conventional,
everyday,
customary
in the sense of gross
Definition
disgusting or repulsive
That's a disgusting thing to say – you're so gross!
Synonyms
vulgar,
offensive,
crude,
rude,
obscene,
low,
coarse,
indecent,
improper,
unseemly,
lewd,
X-rated (informal),
impure,
smutty,
ribald,
indelicate
in the sense of ill-bred
Definition
lacking good manners
They seemed to her rather vulgar and ill-bred.
Synonyms
bad-mannered,
rude,
coarse,
vulgar,
crass,
churlish,
boorish,
uncouth,
unrefined,
impolite,
ungentlemanly,
uncivilized,
discourteous,
indelicate,
uncivil,
unladylike,
ungallant,
unmannerly,
ill-mannered
in the sense of impolite
Definition
discourteous
It would be most impolite to refuse a simple invitation to supper.
Synonyms
bad-mannered,
rude,
disrespectful,
rough,
churlish,
boorish,
insolent,
uncouth,
unrefined,
loutish,
ungentlemanly,
ungracious,
discourteous,
indelicate,
uncivil,
unladylike,
indecorous,
ungallant,
ill-bred,
unmannerly,
ill-mannered
in the sense of improper
Definition
indecent
The politicians denied any improper behaviour.
Synonyms
indecent,
vulgar,
suggestive,
unseemly,
untoward,
risqué,
smutty,
unbecoming,
unfitting,
impolite,
off-colour,
indelicate,
indecorous
in the sense of indecent
Definition
morally or sexually offensive
She accused him of making indecent suggestions.
Synonyms
obscene,
lewd,
dirty,
blue,
offensive,
outrageous,
inappropriate,
rude,
gross,
foul,
crude,
coarse,
filthy,
vile,
improper,
pornographic,
salacious,
impure,
smutty,
immodest,
licentious,
scatological,
indelicate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of indelicate
Definition
offensive, embarrassing, or tasteless
She could not touch upon such an indelicate subject.
Synonyms
offensive,
indecent,
vulgar,
low,
blue,
embarrassing,
gross,
crude,
rude,
obscene,
coarse,
improper,
suggestive,
tasteless,
unseemly,
untoward,
risqué,
X-rated (informal),
unbecoming,
off-colour,
immodest,
near the knuckle (informal),
indecorous,
barro (Australian, slang)
in the sense of low
Definition
unworthy or contemptible
That was a really low trick.
Synonyms
contemptible,
mean,
base,
nasty,
cowardly,
degraded,
vulgar,
vile,
sordid,
abject,
unworthy,
despicable,
depraved,
menial,
reprehensible,
dastardly (old-fashioned),
scurvy (old-fashioned),
servile,
unprincipled,
dishonourable,
ignoble
in the sense of low
Definition
coarse or vulgar
The film's low comedy is never unlikeable.
Synonyms
coarse,
common,
rough,
gross,
crude,
rude,
obscene,
disgraceful,
vulgar,
undignified,
disreputable,
unbecoming,
unrefined,
dishonourable,
ill-bred
in the sense of nasty
There's no need for such nasty language.
Synonyms
obscene,
blue,
sick,
dirty,
offensive,
gross,
foul,
disgusting,
crude,
rude,
filthy,
indecent,
vulgar,
vile,
improper,
pornographic,
lewd,
risqué,
profane,
x-rated,
salacious,
impure,
lascivious,
smutty,
ribald,
licentious,
scatological,
indelicate
in the sense of native
French is not my native tongue.
Synonyms
mother,
indigenous,
vernacular
in the sense of naughty
Definition
mildly indecent
a comedy routine crammed with naughty innuendo
Synonyms
obscene,
blue,
vulgar,
improper,
lewd,
risqué,
X-rated (informal),
bawdy,
smutty,
off-colour,
ribald
in the sense of ordinary
Definition
usual or normal
It was just an ordinary day for us.
Synonyms
usual,
standard,
normal,
common,
established,
settled,
regular,
familiar,
household,
typical,
conventional,
routine,
stock,
everyday,
prevailing,
accustomed,
customary,
habitual,
quotidian,
wonted
in the sense of ribald
Definition
coarse or obscene in a humorous or mocking way
her ribald comments about a guest's body language
Synonyms
coarse,
rude,
indecent,
racy,
blue,
broad,
gross,
naughty,
obscene,
filthy,
vulgar,
raunchy (informal),
earthy,
risqué,
X-rated (informal),
bawdy,
scurrilous,
smutty,
off colour,
licentious,
near the knuckle (informal),
Rabelaisian
in the sense of risqué
Definition
making slightly rude references to sex
a cheeky comment or a risqué suggestion
Synonyms
suggestive,
blue,
daring,
naughty,
improper,
racy,
bawdy,
off colour,
ribald,
immodest,
indelicate,
near the knuckle (informal),
Rabelaisian
in the sense of rude
Definition
vulgar or obscene
He made a rude gesture with his finger.
Synonyms
vulgar,
offensive,
gross,
crude,
obscene,
tasteless,
lewd,
indelicate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of suggestive
Definition
(of remarks or gestures) causing people to think of sex