obscenity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obscenity" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing something that is offensive or indecent, often in a legal or moral context. An example: "The film was criticized for its use of obscenity." Alternative expressions include "indecency" and "vulgarity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Noonan added that it was an obscenity that the liability for loans was being transferred on to the taxpayers, especially the poorest ones.

The Guardian - Business

Natalie Bennett Green party leader, Caroline Lucas MP Brighton Pavilion, Keith Taylor MEP South East England, Jean Lambert MEP London, Molly Scott Cato MEP South West England Bless you for your impressive coverage (19 May) of the IMF's call for an end to the obscenity of global subsidies to fossil fuels – a step that it calls a "game-changer" for human social welfare, as well as the climate.

The Guardian

The main opposition party Fine Gael described the EU-IMF deal as a "downright obscenity".

The Guardian - Business

Counseling those like the Stanleys and Neumanns to "try harder", "think bigger" or to "follow their dreams" is, in the context of the options available to them, absurd to the point of obscenity.

The Guardian - Opinion

In his dissent in Lawrence, Justice Antonin Scalia said the case would mean the legalization of "bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality and obscenity".

The New York Times

Will the Hollywood crowd allow them to crack down on obscenity?

The Economist

Shelley had sculpted Ozymandias's face himself, shattered it with whoops of glee, rubbed it in its own pride ("king" always being an obscenity as far as he was concerned) and placed it in the wilderness, both moral and physical, in which such men belonged.In any case, the "real" Ozymandias too was a stock tyrant; or so it seemed.

The Economist

The Scotsman, bible of all things Fringe, even tried to help these aspiring stars this week by offering a tongue-in-cheek column of advice which including instructions such as "Wear as little as possible" and "If someone refuses to take a flyer speak an obscenity loudly as they pass they may look back.

The Economist

DESPITE all the drunkenness, obscenity and prostitution, the Victorian music hall realised the dream of today's cultural gurus.

The Economist

The liberal Warren court's decisions on race, crime, religion, free speech and obscenity startled, delighted or outraged contemporaries and had a far-reaching impact on American politics and society.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

If that trail pans out, then Mr Tusk will be able to deflect public anger from the obscenity-laced conversations of his senior ministers and the ineptness of secret services, who should have prevented them from being bugged, and instead blame Poland's age-old enemy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Apply the term figuratively to express moral outrage regarding social conditions such as extreme poverty, greed, or violence.

Common error

Avoid using the word only to refer to sexual content. In modern English, it is frequently used to condemn social injustices, as seen in the phrase "<a href="/s/moral+obscenity" target="_blank" rel="alternative">moral obscenity".

Linguistic Context

As a noun, "obscenity" functions as the subject or object of a sentence to denote offensive behavior, language, or content. Ludwig examples illustrate its frequent use in legal frameworks, such as trials and censorship debates, as well as in rhetorical contexts where it characterizes a state of being morally repellent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The noun "obscenity" is a versatile and legally significant term used to describe content or behavior that violates moral and social standards. Ludwig AI identifies it as a correct and highly frequent term in contemporary English. While traditionally associated with the censorship of sexual material in literature and film, modern usage has expanded into the political sphere. Authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian frequently use the word as a rhetorical tool to condemn social or economic conditions, such as the "<a href="/s/obscenity+of+global+subsidies" target="_blank" rel="alternative">obscenity of global subsidies" or chemical warfare. Writers should distinguish it from milder terms such as "<a href="/s/indecency" target="_blank" rel="alternative">indecency" in legal contexts, as "obscenity" carries a much heavier weight of condemnation and legal restriction. Ultimately, whether used in a courtroom or a commentary, the word effectively signals a profound breach of decency or humanity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indecency

Often used in broadcast law to describe content that is offensive but less severe than legal obscenity.

lewdness

Emphasizes the sexually suggestive or lustful nature of a behavior or item.

vulgarity

Focuses on a lack of refinement or good taste rather than violating legal moral standards.

profanity

Specifically refers to the use of swear words or blasphemous language.

salacity

A formal term for the quality of being lustful or promoting sexual interest.

smut

A more informal and derogatory term for sexually explicit or low-quality erotic material.

filth

A strong, judgmental synonym used to express intense moral disgust.

bawdiness

Describes sexual humor that is often considered coarse but amusing rather than strictly offensive.

scurrility

Refers to vulgar or abusive language, often used in a literary or formal context.

coarseness

Describes a general lack of delicacy or the use of crude, unrefined expression.

FAQs

How can I use "obscenity" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a specific act or a general quality, for example: "The prosecutor argued that the film crossed the line into "obscenity"" or "He was shocked by the "obscenity" of the wealth gap."

What can I say instead of "obscenity"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/indecency" target="_blank" rel="alternative">indecency", "<a href="/s/vulgarity" target="_blank" rel="alternative">vulgarity", or "<a href="/s/profanity" target="_blank" rel="alternative">profanity".

What is the difference between "obscenity" and "<a href="/s/indecency" target="_blank" rel="alternative">indecency"?

In legal contexts, "obscenity" refers to content that has no redeeming social value and is entirely prohibited, whereas "<a href="/s/indecency" target="_blank" rel="alternative">indecency" is a broader category that may be restricted but not entirely banned.

Is "obscenity" always a formal word?

While it is the standard term in legal and academic writing, it is also used in journalism and everyday speech to express strong moral condemnation.