obscenity

Plural: obscenities

Noun

• the trait of behaving in an obscene manner
• an offensive or indecent word or phrase
• an obscene act
• Something that is obscene.
• An act of obscene behaviour.
• Specifically, an offensive word; a profanity; a dirty word.
• Lewdness, indecency, or offensive behaviour or material.
• The fact of being obscene.

Examples

• Bestiality was outlawed as an obscenity in the strongly conservative community.
• Eliza couldn't stand her daughter's music; as she saw it, it was just shouted obscenities and a heavy drum beat.
• Martha wouldn't go into the art museum because, as she put it, "They have obscenities just sitting out, on display!"
• The coalition of religious conservatives was campaigning against, in their view, rampant obscenity in the entertainment industry.

Synonyms

bawdiness, dirty word, filth, lewdness, salaciousness, salacity, smut, vulgarism