Offensive and Obscene

Offensive

Offensive adjective - Causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment.
Usage example: the smell of rotting food is quite offensive

Obscene is a synonym for offensive. In some cases you can use "Obscene" instead an adjective "Offensive".

Nearby Words: offend, offence, offensively

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

Offensive is a synonym for obscene in disagreeable topic. You can use "Offensive" instead the word "Obscene" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as indecent, shocking, pornographic.

Nearby Words: obscenity, obscenely
Cite this Source
Obscene and Offensive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/offensive/obscene
Offensive & Obscene. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/offensive/obscene>.
Obscene or Offensive. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/offensive/obscene.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "offensive" and "obscene" have occurred on timeline