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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Banning books meant for adults has become increasingly complex, but 19th-century obscenity laws opened the door for people to turn their attention to books made available to children. 
Theara Coleman, The Week, 11 Sep. 2022 He was tried in India for obscenity in his writing, but never convicted. Ajay Verghese, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2022 In her order dismissing the lawsuit, Judge Pamela Baskervill concluded that part of Virginia’s state law dealing with obscenity is unconstitutional. BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2022 In her order dismissing the lawsuit, Judge Pamela Baskervill concluded that part of Virginia’s state law dealing with obscenity is unconstitutional. Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 While a reporter was on the scene, at least one customer reacted to the news of the store being closed with an audible obscenity. Lautaro Grinspan, ajc, 17 July 2022 His YouTube channel was this week attacked, stripped of its content and renamed with a Russian obscenity. Vivienne Chow, Variety, 8 Apr. 2022 George Carlin and Lenny Bruce were also arrested throughout their careers for obscenity in their content. USA Today, 1 Aug. 2022 What arises after this is the era of Elvis getting back to his roots, in a way, juggling the need to make political statements, as his performances in defiance of obscenity laws plainly did, with his desire to play it safe and stay out of it. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2022 See More
Theara Coleman, The Week, 11 Sep. 2022 He was tried in India for obscenity in his writing, but never convicted. Ajay Verghese, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2022 In her order dismissing the lawsuit, Judge Pamela Baskervill concluded that part of Virginia’s state law dealing with obscenity is unconstitutional. BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2022 In her order dismissing the lawsuit, Judge Pamela Baskervill concluded that part of Virginia’s state law dealing with obscenity is unconstitutional. Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 While a reporter was on the scene, at least one customer reacted to the news of the store being closed with an audible obscenity. Lautaro Grinspan, ajc, 17 July 2022 His YouTube channel was this week attacked, stripped of its content and renamed with a Russian obscenity. Vivienne Chow, Variety, 8 Apr. 2022 George Carlin and Lenny Bruce were also arrested throughout their careers for obscenity in their content. USA Today, 1 Aug. 2022 What arises after this is the era of Elvis getting back to his roots, in a way, juggling the need to make political statements, as his performances in defiance of obscenity laws plainly did, with his desire to play it safe and stay out of it. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē
əb-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being shocking to a person's sense of what is moral or decent
2
: something that is shocking to a person's sense of what is moral or decent
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
obscenities
noun
as in curses
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression uttered a loud obscenity when he dropped the hammer on his toe Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- curses
- profanities
- expletives
- vulgarisms
- swearwords
- epithets
- swears
- cusswords
- languages
- cusses
- dirty words
- imprecations
- names
- maledictions
- execrations
- four-letter words
- scurrilities
- oaths
- bawdries