obscene

/əbˈsiːn/ (bre, ipa) · /əbˈsiːn/ (ame, ipa) · /äb-ˈsēn əb-/ (ame, mw)

obscene — adjective

  • obscenepositive
  • more obscenecomparative
  • most obscenesuperlative

1. Describes words, pictures, or behavior that offend people because sex is shown o

1.形容詞C1
釋義

Describes words, pictures, or behavior that offend people because sex is shown or talked about in a crude, too open way.

例句

The cinema refused to screen the obscene video before the evening news.

collocation: obscene video

Arjun was sent home for drawing obscene pictures on his locker door.

同義詞
  • indecent

    a broad and common choice for behavior or material that breaks accepted standards of sexual modesty

  • lewd

    stronger and more disapproving; often suggests deliberate sexual vulgarity

  • vulgar

    broader; can describe crude taste or rude language even when sex is not central

  • explicit

    more neutral; emphasizes that sexual detail is shown clearly, not always with moral criticism

反義詞
  • decent

    acceptable by normal social standards and not sexually offensive

  • clean

    free from sexual vulgarity, especially in language or humor

  • modest

    careful not to show or discuss sex too openly

文法句型

obscene + joke/language/picture/gesture

be + obscene

find + something + obscene

用法筆記

Usually modifies content or actions such as language, jokes, photos, gestures, or websites. Use this sense for sexually crude or openly indecent material, not for ordinary bad manners.

常見錯誤

❌My neighbor is obscene because he never says hello.
✅My neighbor is rude because he never says hello.
💡this word is for sexually crude or indecent content, not everyday impoliteness.
❌The ad was offensive, so it must be obscene.
✅The ad was offensive, but it was not obscene.
💡something can offend people without involving sexual indecency.

2. Used for an amount, price, or level that is so extreme it feels unacceptable and

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Used for an amount, price, or level that is so extreme it feels unacceptable and morally shocking, not just very high.

例句

The landlord demanded an obscene rent for a studio with no window.

collocation: obscene rent

By noon, scalpers were charging obscene prices for the concert tickets.

同義詞
  • outrageous

    broad and emotional; can describe price, behavior, or treatment that seems shocking

  • excessive

    more neutral and factual; states that something is too much without the same moral force

  • extortionate

    used especially for prices or charges that seem unfairly high, as if someone is exploiting you

  • astronomical

    emphasizes size alone; often weaker in moral criticism than obscene

反義詞

文法句型

obscene + price/amount/profit/salary

be + obscene

call + something + obscene

用法筆記

Most often describes money-related nouns such as prices, rents, profits, salaries, or fees. Distinguish it from sense 1: here the offense comes from shocking excess, not from sexual content.

常見錯誤

❌The soup was obscene at that restaurant.
✅The price of the soup was obscene.
💡this sense usually judges an amount, fee, or price, not the object itself.
❌The bill was expensive, so it was obscene.
✅The bill was obscene because the charge was wildly excessive.
💡obscene is stronger than expensive and adds moral outrage.