obscene

See also: obscène

obscene - English

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /əbˈsiːn/
  • (General American) enPR: əb-sēnʹ, IPA: /əbˈsin/
  • Hyphenation: ob‧scene

Adjective

obscene (comparative obscener or more obscene, superlative obscenest or most obscene) (see usage notes)

  1. Offensive to standards of decency or morality.
  2. Lewd or lustful.
  3. Disgusting or repulsive.
  4. (by extension) Beyond all reason; excessive.
    • Synonyms: see excessive
    • Antonyms: see moderate
  5. (chiefly Britain, criminal law) Liable to corrupt or deprave.

Usage notes

  • The comparative form obscener and superlative form obscenest, though formed by valid rules for English, are less common than more obscene and most obscene.
  • In criminal law, many jurisdictions distinguish between the terms obscene, indecent, and profane when regulating broadcasted content, with obscene typically being the most severe of the three categories.

Alternative forms

Derived terms

  • obscenity
  • obscenous (obsolete)
  • obscenousness (obsolete)

Translations

obscene - Latin

Adjective

obscēne

  1. vocative masculine singular of obscēnus

obscene - Romanian

Adjective

obscene f pl

  1. feminine plural of obscen
Meaning and Definition of obscene
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