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Obscene Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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obscene

ob-scene

🇺🇸 /ɑbˈsin/ · 🇬🇧 /ɒbsˈiːn/

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

inappropriate language

Offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty. Disgusting or repulsive.

Synonyms

indecent, lewd, offensive, vulgar.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
obscene

Inappropriate and disgusting language, behavior, or imagery, usually relating to sexual content. Often used in legal and formal settings.

  • The movie was banned for its obscene content.
  • He was fined for making obscene gestures in public.
indecent

Something considered improper, shocking, or offensive, especially related to moral standards. Often used in legal contexts and public decency discussions.

  • The comedian's indecent jokes offended many in the audience.
  • She was charged with indecent exposure.
vulgar

Lacking sophistication or good taste, often crude or coarse, and sometimes relating to explicit content. Generally implies a lack of refinement.

  • She was embarrassed by his vulgar jokes at the dinner party.
  • The song's vulgar lyrics prompted a warning label.
lewd

Lustful and offensive in a sexual way, typically describing behavior, comments, or looks. Often implies a sense of being vile or predatory.

  • He was fired for making lewd comments to his colleagues.
  • Stay away from him; he has a reputation for lewd behavior.
offensive

Causing someone to feel hurt, upset, or angry. Can refer to any kind of disrespectful or distasteful behavior or language, not limited to sexual content.

  • His remarks were incredibly offensive to many people.
  • The offensive smell made everyone in the room uncomfortable.

Examples of usage

  • He shouted obscene insults at the referee.
  • She was arrested for using obscene language in public.
Context #2 | Adjective

inappropriate behavior

Characterized by lewd or offensive behavior. Offensive to moral principles.

Synonyms

disgusting, indecent, offensive, vulgar.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
obscene

Use this word for something deeply offensive or morally wrong, often related to sexual content.

  • The comedian's jokes were so obscene that many people walked out of the show
indecent

Suitable for referring to behavior or clothing that is not appropriate, especially in a sexual manner.

  • Her outfit was considered indecent by some of the more conservative guests
vulgar

Use this word to describe actions, words, or behavior that are crude, unrefined, or in bad taste.

  • The movie was criticized for its vulgar humor and swear words
disgusting

This word works well for describing something that causes strong feelings of dislike or nausea.

  • The smell of the garbage was absolutely disgusting
offensive

Best used to talk about words or actions that can hurt or insult someone.

  • His comments about her appearance were extremely offensive

Examples of usage

  • The movie was criticized for its obscene content.
  • His obscene gestures offended the audience.
Context #3 | Noun

obscene material

Material, such as books or films, that depicts or describes sexual activity in a way that is offensive or disgusting.

Synonyms

indecent, lewd, pornographic.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
obscene

Used to describe something that is offensive, shocking, and morally repugnant, usually sexually explicit visual content, language, or materials.

  • The movie was banned for its obscene content
  • Some of the lyrics in that song are considered obscene
pornographic

Explicitly associated with pornography, directly involving or depicting explicit sexual acts meant to cause sexual arousal.

  • The website was shut down for hosting pornographic material
  • She was uncomfortable with the pornographic images in the magazine
indecent

Refers to something that is inappropriate, often in a sexual way but less extreme and more about violation of social standards rather than moral outrage.

  • His indecent behavior at the party was unacceptable
  • Wearing such indecent outfits is not allowed at school
lewd

Commonly used to describe explicit sexual behavior or remarks that are vulgar and intended to provoke a sexual response, often with a negative connotation.

  • He was fired for making lewd comments to a colleague
  • The magazine was criticized for its lewd images

Examples of usage

  • The bookstore was fined for selling obscene magazines.
  • He was charged with possession of obscene material.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “obscene”

Obscene is a 2-syllable adjective and noun (ob-scene). It is pronounced /ɑbˈsin/ in American English and /ɒbsˈiːn/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 3 meanings, 11 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #13,088 among the most common English words.

Did you know?

“obscene” in censorship

  • Different countries have varying definitions of what is considered obscene, leading to complex laws about art and media.
  • In the United States, the Miller Test is used to define obscenity in legal cases, focusing on whether the content lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

“obscene” in art and literature

  • Many famous literary works have been challenged or banned for being obscene, including 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' and 'Ulysses.'
  • In art, pieces like Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' sparked debates over obscenity and artistic expression.

“obscene” in psychology

  • Studies show that reactions to obscene content can trigger strong emotional responses, often linked to cultural and social norms.
  • People may react differently to obscene material based on factors like age, upbringing, and personal beliefs.

“obscene” in pop culture

  • The term often surfaces in discussions about music, like when certain lyrics are deemed obscene and lead to censorship or public backlash.
  • Films such as 'The Last Temptation of Christ' faced controversies for including scenes considered obscene by some audiences.

Origin of 'obscene'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'obscene' comes from the Latin 'obscenus,' which means 'foul' or 'dirty.'
  • In ancient Rome, the term was used in legal contexts to describe things that could corrupt public morals.

The word 'obscene' originated from the Latin word 'obscaenus', meaning 'ill-omened' or 'abominable'. Over time, its meaning evolved to refer to something offensive or disgusting, particularly in relation to sexual content. The concept of obscenity has been a subject of legal and moral debate, with different cultures and societies having varying standards regarding what is considered obscene.

Rhymes

Obscene rhymes with achene, amine, bien, colleen, gelatine, halloween, jean and mein.

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Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,088, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.