vulgar

9 synonyms and 1 antonym for vulgar, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Crude, tasteless, or offensive, especially in speech or behaviour.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

common gross

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

vernacular coarse crude

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

earthy uncouth plebeian unwashed

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Crude, tasteless, or offensive, especially in speech or behaviour.

“His vulgar jokes made half the room uncomfortable.”

earthy uncouth common vernacular coarse crude plebeian unwashed gross

2. adj

Relating to ordinary people rather than the elite or educated classes; common or unrefined.

“The professor traced how Latin evolved into the vulgar tongues of medieval Europe.”

Opposites

august

How to use vulgar

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

vulgar language vulgar joke vulgar display

Etymology

From Latin vulgaris, "of the common people," from vulgus, "the crowd, the masses."

Full origin of vulgar →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vulgar” mean?

The word “vulgar” means crude, tasteless, or offensive, especially in speech or behaviour. In plain terms, crude or tasteless — or, in an older sense, simply "of ordinary people" rather than refined or elite.

How do you pronounce “vulgar”?

“Vulgar” is pronounced VUHL-guh (/ˈvʌl.ɡɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “vulgar” in a sentence?

Here is “vulgar” used in a sentence: “His vulgar jokes made half the room uncomfortable.”

What part of speech is “vulgar”?

“Vulgar” is an adjective.

Where does the word “vulgar” come from?

The word “vulgar” comes from Latin. From Latin vulgaris, "of the common people," from vulgus, "the crowd, the masses.".

Is “vulgar” a common word?

“Vulgar” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “vulgar” have?

“Vulgar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: crude, tasteless, or offensive, especially in speech or behaviour.

People also searched

common august gross crude coarse vernacular plebeian uncouth unwashed earthy

Nearby words

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