Obscene
Obscene adjective - Depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society.
Usage example: obscene gestures are totally inappropriate in the workplace
Profane is a synonym for obscene in behaviour topic. In some cases you can use "Profane" instead an adjective "Obscene", when it comes to topics like indecent, decent, scatological. popular alternative
Profane
Profane adjective - Depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society.
Usage example: his idea of dinner table conversation is the telling of profane stories about his alleged sexual exploits
Obscene is a synonym for profane in behaviour topic. You can use "Obscene" instead an adjective "Profane", if it concerns topics such as crude, immoral, decent. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Russian even has a dialect that is based on forming sentences out of obscene and profane words using Buffy Speak, called mat.
Source: Cluster F-Bomb -
Instructors in the French Foreign Legion are loud, profane/obscene, and will harshly punish recruits for any sort of disobedience (one favorite is to have a recruit march laps in boots with no laces while carrying a rucksack full of rocks with the straps replaced with wires).
Source: Drill Sergeant Nasty -
Doubtfire but when the kids left, it was like a switch was flicked on and Brosnan knew that there was no way he would be able to keep a straight face because Robin would launch into the most profane and obscene routines simply to mess with the cast and crew.
Source: Creator / Robin Williams
Cite this Source
Profane and Obscene. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/obscene/profane
Obscene & Profane. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/obscene/profane>.
Profane or Obscene. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/obscene/profane.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "obscene" and "profane" have occurred on timeline