obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈse-nə-tē 
əb-,
also -ˈsē-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene
Synonyms
Examples of obscenity in a Sentence
The author uses obscenity to make a point about the culture.
the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
Recent Examples on the Web
These days, when people seem eager to scream obscenities at passing strangers, who can believe that anyone would take the trouble to be so subtle with an insult?
—
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
The Wexner opened during the height of the culture wars, when the [Robert] Mapplethorpe show in Cincinnati was getting the museum director there prosecuted for obscenity.
—Jason Simon, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
In 1985: Tipper Gore testified at congressional hearings addressing the issue of obscenity in rock music and advocating for parental advisory labels.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 20 Sep. 2024
The unauthorized 43-foot nude statue of Donald Trump in a Philadelphia park has been condemned by the city's Republican Party leader, who has filed an obscenity report with the police.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obscenity 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
The Wexner opened during the height of the culture wars, when the [Robert] Mapplethorpe show in Cincinnati was getting the museum director there prosecuted for obscenity.
—Jason Simon, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
In 1985: Tipper Gore testified at congressional hearings addressing the issue of obscenity in rock music and advocating for parental advisory labels.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 20 Sep. 2024
The unauthorized 43-foot nude statue of Donald Trump in a Philadelphia park has been condemned by the city's Republican Party leader, who has filed an obscenity report with the police.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obscenity
Dictionary Entries Near obscenity
Cite this Entry
“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscenity. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈsen-ət-ē
əb-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something that is obscene
Legal Definition
obscenity
noun
ob·scen·i·ty
äb-ˈse-nə-tē
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene
also
: obscene material
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share