# obscene

/ɑbˈsin/ (US) · /ɒbsˈiːn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/obscene
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

extremely offensive or shocking, especially in a sexual way. It can also describe an amount of money that is much too large to be fair.

For teachers: offending against moral principles or standards of decency, particularly regarding sexual matters. Also used to describe something that is morally repugnant due to its excessive or disproportionate scale.

## Examples

- The company paid its CEO an obscene amount of money.
- The court had to decide whether the graphic images in the book were artistic or simply obscene.
- While the legal definition of what is obscene varies by jurisdiction, most societies agree that certain depictions of violence cross a line into moral depravity.

## Usage notes

- Often used to modify nouns like 'amount', 'wealth', or 'profit' to express strong disapproval of excess.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.