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vulgarity

vulgarity

18 7.4
A lack of good taste and politeness in speech or behavior
  • noun
  • /vʌlˈɡɛrɪti/
  • NSFW
translation icon : vulgaridad
  • The comedian's jokes were funny, but some of them crossed the line into vulgarity.
  • celebrate vulgarity

Instead, he offers braggadocio, put downs, disrespect for women, and vulgarity.

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Examples

  • With a finished work, you subject yourself to public scrutiny, praise, ridicule, and all the other vulgarities that go with accomplishment.

  • Many Americans were shocked and dismayed at the vulgarity of this public statement at a time of national grief.

    Academic text (2003)
  • The only way to deal with vulgarity is to rise above it.

  • That you could make your points without vulgarity.

  • As someone once said, the Constitution gives rights to vulgarity as well as to culture.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Germans make vulgarity an art.

  • Be careful not to go too far either on the side of elegance or vulgarity.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Rudeness and vulgarity are the norm.

  • Perhaps one day you'll learn that great men don't need to stoop to vulgarity to express themselves.

  • If most intellectuals disdain the provincialism and vulgarity of the vernacular, others have on occasion found much to admire.

    Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

filth
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
45 7.0

Strong rude words that shock or upset people

is the general state of being coarse, not limited to words
profanity
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
43 6.0

Words that are rude and upset people, often about religion

is broader, naming coarse lack of taste rather than specific offence
lewdness
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
4 7.9

Sexual words or actions that are rude and offensive

is the wider lack of taste beyond sexual indecency
rawness
vsvulgarity
3 5.5

An unfinished, rough quality that feels unpolished

focuses on tasteless coarseness rather than incompleteness
coarseness
vsvulgarity
2 6.4

Rudeness or crude behavior that shows little politeness

is the general absence of taste or good manners
crudity
vsvulgarity
  • NSFW
1 8.1

Rude words or actions that show little respect for other people

is the wider state of being coarse and lacking taste
grossness
vsvulgarity
1 5.6

A rude or crude way of acting, speaking and dressing

is the general quality of being coarse or crude
raunch
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
1 9.7

A quality of being crude and sexually shocking

is the broad quality of being coarse rather than only indecent
crudeness
vsvulgarity
  • NSFW
1 6.3

Rude, vulgar, or insensitive behaviour that upsets people

is the broader quality of being coarse or unrefined
tastelessness
vsvulgarity
1 6.8

Poor style that makes people feel uncomfortable

is broader, covering coarse behavior beyond mere bad taste
salaciousness
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A way of acting that uses sexual words and images to shock or excite people

is broader, focusing on bad taste rather than sexual intent
tackiness
vsvulgarity
  • Informal
1 6.6

A quality of looking cheap and in bad taste

refers more widely to coarseness, not only cheap appearance
raunchiness
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
1 8.6

The quality of being crude and openly sexual, often to make people laugh

covers crude lack of taste beyond sexual explicitness
earthiness
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
1 6.8

Being direct and coarse in a way that can seem sexual or rude

is the general crude quality not limited to sexual directness
gaminess
vsvulgarity
  • NSFW
1 9.5

Bold language or behavior that is slightly rude and may shock people

is stronger, covering clear lack of taste or crude behaviour
vulgarism
vsvulgarity
  • NSFW
9.1

A crude, tasteless way of acting, speaking or decorating

is the general state of lacking taste or refinement
bawdiness
vsvulgarity
  • NSFW
9.2

A type of indecent sexual joke or language

is the broader quality of coarseness beyond just indecent jokes
bawdy
vsvulgarity
  • NSFW
9.5

Sexual talk or writing that is rude and shocking

is the general state of being coarse rather than specific lewd content
salacity
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
9.9

Showing sexual interest in a way people find offensive

applies to crude coarseness even without sexual provocation
smuttiness
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
9.3

A quality of speech or writing that is rude about sex

is the wider quality of being coarse beyond mainly language
dirtiness
vsvulgarity
  • Offensive
6.5

Using rude or sexual words in speech and writing

is a wider quality of coarse behaviour beyond language

Antonyms

Being refined and cultured with wide experience of the world

10 5.9

A polished, elegant way of acting that shows good taste

1 4.5

A sense of good style in clothes, design, or manners

How Refined

refinement
10 5.9
politeness
26 1.3
vulgarity
  • NSFW
18 7.4
obscenity
  • Offensive
50 7.4

Surface Forms

vulgarity singular
vulgarities plural

Morphology

vulgarity = vulgar (transparent) = vulgar + ity

The noun 'vulgarity' is transparently derived from the adjective 'vulgar' by adding the suffix '-ity', indicating a state or quality.

Etymology

Vulgarity comes from the Latin word vulgus, which means 'the common people' or 'the crowd'. So vulgarity moved from meaning 'common' to meaning behaviour or language that is rough, crude, or not polite, because it was seen as the style of the crowd rather than something polished.