Definition and Pronunciation
Obscene (pronounced: /əbˈsiːn/) is an adjective that describes something offensive, shocking, or morally unacceptable—especially in relation to sex, nudity, or vulgar language. It can also refer to anything outrageously improper, even outside of sexuality, such as obscene wealth or obscene behavior.
Easy Explanation
“Obscene” means rude, offensive, or too shocking to be acceptable. Most often, it’s used for sexual content, but it can also describe something extreme, like obscene amounts of money.
Grammatical Formation
- Adjective: obscene
- Adverb: obscenely
- Noun: obscenity (plural: obscenities)
Word Comparisons
- Obscene vs. explicit: explicit means clear and detailed, not always bad; obscene means offensive or indecent.
- Obscene vs. vulgar: vulgar means crude or tasteless; obscene usually has a stronger sexual or moral offense.
- Obscene vs. indecent: both mean improper, but obscene is more extreme.
Connotations
- Strongly negative: offensive, indecent, shocking.
- Legal: obscene content may be banned or censored by law.
- Figurative: used to exaggerate how excessive something is (obscene wealth).
Meaning with Prepositions
- Obscene in: The joke was obscene in nature.
- Obscene to: It was obscene to show that movie to children.
- Obscene for: Too obscene for public broadcast.
Real-Life Examples
- The comedian was criticized for making obscene jokes.
- The magazine was banned for publishing obscene material.
- He made an obscene gesture at the referee.
- The CEO earns an obscene amount of money compared to workers.
Synonyms
indecent, vulgar, lewd, offensive, profane, filthy, raunchy, immoral, improper
Antonyms
decent, clean, modest, chaste, innocent, wholesome
Related Terms
- Obscenity – offensive words, acts, or materials.
- Indecent exposure – showing private parts publicly, considered obscene.
- Profanity – offensive language, not always sexual.
- Lewdness – crude sexual behavior.
Common Collocations
- obscene gesture
- obscene material
- obscene language
- obscene jokes
- obscene wealth
Idiomatic and Figurative Usage
- Obscene amount: an outrageously high number or quantity.
- Obscene gesture: rude hand sign (often the middle finger).
- Obscene behavior: improper and offensive actions.
Sample Sentences
- The movie was banned for its obscene content.
- He shouted obscene words at the police.
- They live in obscene luxury while others starve.
- The obscene gesture got him ejected from the game.
Connection to Sexuality
Yes, “obscene” is often linked to sexuality. It typically refers to sexual words, jokes, images, or acts considered offensive or indecent. In law and media, “obscene” usually marks sexually explicit material that violates community standards of morality. However, its meaning has broadened to include other excesses, such as “obscene wealth.”
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.