obscenity
Crude language or behavior
Obscenity is language, imagery, or behavior that offends prevailing standards of decency—typically involving sex, bodily functions, or extreme violence.
In legal contexts, obscenity refers to material lacking artistic or social value that appeals to prurient interests: The court ruled the film was not obscenity.
The word also describes individual offensive acts or utterances: He shouted obscenities at the referee.
Lesser criminal charge
- infractionMinor rule breach
- violationBreaking of rules
- petty offenseMinor legal wrongdoing
- disorderly conductCriminal public disturbance charge
public indecency · lewd conduct · indecent exposure · profanity · vulgarity · cursing · swearing · disturbing the peace
misdemeanor
Lesser criminal charge
- infractionMinor rule breach
- violationBreaking of rules
- petty offenseMinor legal wrongdoing
disorderly conduct · public indecency · lewd conduct · indecent exposure · profanity · vulgarity · cursing · swearing · disturbing the peace · citation
- vice lawssodomy laws, blue laws, adultery laws, indecency laws, modesty laws
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- cursescurse, curses, hex, hexes, jinx
- sexual ethicssexual morality, sexual ethics, chastity, adultery, human sexuality
- speech crimesdefamation, libel, slander, hate speech, incitement
obscenitydecency
Moral appropriateness in behavior
propriety · decorum · morality · virtue · respectability
obscenitypoliteness
Courteous, respectful conduct
refinement · clean language · courtesy · civility · euphemism
obscenitypurity
Uncontaminated quality
innocence · cleanness · wholesomeness · immaculateness · spotlessness
- obscenity lawsLegal restrictions on offensive expression
- obscenity trialLegal proceeding over indecent content