vulgarity
Lack of refinement
Vulgarity is crudeness or coarseness, especially in language, behavior, or taste.
The word covers a spectrum from mere tastelessness to outright obscenity: The comedian's vulgarity alienated half the audience.
A vulgarity is a specific instance—a crude word or act: He peppered his speech with vulgarities.
The term implies violation of social refinement rather than moral transgression.
Indecent word or act
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
- curseInvoked harm through words
- swearVow or use profanity
- cussSpeak profanely
blasphemy · foul language · invective · scatology · four-letter word · cursing · swearing · cussing
Crude sexual indecency
- indecencyOffensive or vulgar behavior
- smutLewd content or soot
- filthFoul, accumulated matter
- bawdyHumorously indecent
ribald · raunchy · off-color · X-rated · prurient · salacious · pornographic · dirty
Lacking good manners
- boorishCrudely ill-mannered
- coarseRough in texture
- unrefinedNot processed or polished
- lowbrowLacking intellectual depth
crass · uncivilized · rough · earthy · unsophisticated · oafish · loutish · cloddish
Vulgar or slightly sticky
- gaudyTastelessly ornate
- garishTastelessly showy
- kitschTasteless, garish art
- tawdryCheaply ornate and vulgar
cheap · flashy · trashy · ostentatious · showy · loud · naff · cheesy
Causing displeasure or attack-oriented
- insultingShowing contempt through words
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
- disrespectfulShowing lack of regard
- abusiveCausing harm or insult
disparaging · contemptuous · pejorative · inflammatory · outrageous · scandalous · provocative · objectionable
obscenity
Indecent word or act
cuss · blasphemy · foul language · invective · scatology · four-letter word · cursing · swearing · cussing · profane
lewdness
Crude sexual indecency
bawdy · ribald · raunchy · off-color · X-rated · prurient · salacious · pornographic · dirty · suggestive
uncouth
Lacking good manners
lowbrow · crass · uncivilized · rough · earthy · unsophisticated · oafish · loutish · cloddish · churlish
tacky
Vulgar or slightly sticky
tawdry · cheap · flashy · trashy · ostentatious · showy · loud · naff · cheesy · brash
offensive
Causing displeasure or attack-oriented
- insultingShowing contempt through words
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
- disrespectfulShowing lack of regard
abusive · disparaging · contemptuous · pejorative · inflammatory · outrageous · scandalous · provocative · objectionable · repugnant
- tackinesstackiness, gaudiness, garishness, tawdriness, trashiness
- cursescurse, curses, hex, hexes, jinx
- gracelessnessclumsiness, awkwardness, boorishness, rudeness, indecorum
- societal decaydecline, decay, degradation, degeneration, deterioration
- RabelaisianGargantua, carnivalesque, ribaldry, bawdiness, scatology
- philistinismanti-intellectualism, boorishness, tastelessness, uncouthness
vulgarityrefinement
Elegance of manner
elegance · sophistication · cultivation · polish · tastefulness
vulgaritydecency
Moral appropriateness in behavior
propriety · decorum · politeness · respectability · appropriateness
vulgaritypurity
Uncontaminated quality
decency · innocence · spotlessness · cleanness · chasteness
vulgarism, vulgarian, vulgarize, vulgarities, vulgarians, vulgarization, vulgarizes, vulgarised, vulgarise