Definition and Pronunciation
Gross (pronounced: /ɡroʊs/) is an adjective with several meanings, depending on context. It can mean:
- Disgusting or offensive – especially in everyday speech (“That food smells gross”).
- Serious or glaring – often in formal/legal settings (“a gross violation of law”).
- Total or overall – in finance or measurement, before deductions (“gross income”).
Here, we focus mainly on the moral/sexual connotation, where gross means indecent, vulgar, or repulsively improper.
Easy Explanation
“Gross” means very bad, wrong, or disgusting. For example, rude sexual jokes can be called gross, or someone might say food looks gross if it’s spoiled.
Grammatical Formation
- Adjective: gross
- Noun: grossness
- Adverb: grossly
- Opposite: pleasant, refined, minor (depending on usage).
Word Comparisons
- Gross vs. obscene: obscene is stronger and often illegal; gross is less formal but still indecent.
- Gross vs. vulgar: both mean crude, but vulgar is about low taste; gross is about disgust.
- Gross vs. improper: improper = not suitable; gross = shockingly bad or disgusting.
Connotations
- Strongly negative: indecent, ugly, repulsive.
- Casual/slang: disgusting or nasty.
- Formal/legal: extreme, serious (e.g., “gross negligence”).
Meaning with Prepositions
- Gross in: gross in behavior.
- Gross with: gross with his remarks.
- Gross about: gross about sexuality.
Real-Life Examples
- He made a gross remark about her body.
- That movie was full of gross humor.
- She was shocked by the gross indecency of the play.
- His gross income exceeded expectations, even after taxes.
Synonyms
disgusting, obscene, indecent, vulgar, nasty, crude, revolting, improper, repulsive
Antonyms
pleasant, decent, refined, elegant, proper, tasteful, clean
Related Terms
- Obscene – highly offensive, sexually improper.
- Indecent – not conforming to accepted standards.
- Vulgar – crude, low, lacking refinement.
- Improper – socially unacceptable, less strong than gross.
Common Collocations
- gross behavior
- gross language
- gross indecency
- gross violation
- gross negligence
Idiomatic and Figurative Usage
- Gross indecency: legal term for sexual acts deemed offensive.
- Gross misconduct: serious wrongdoing at work.
- Gross exaggeration: extreme overstatement.
Sample Sentences
- She complained about his gross jokes at the office.
- He was arrested for gross indecency in public.
- That food looks gross—I can’t eat it.
- The company was guilty of gross negligence.
Connection to Sexuality
Yes, often. “Gross” is used to describe sexual comments, acts, or jokes that are indecent, vulgar, or offensive. In legal history, gross indecency was even a formal charge for sexual misconduct.
Sexopedia.co is an educational glossary of sexual and gender-related terms—helping you improve your English while deepening your understanding of identity, language, and self-expression.