Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

obscenity

[uhb-sen-i-tee, -see-ni-] / əbˈsɛn ɪ ti, -ˈsi nɪ- /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To publish “Ulysses” in 1934 without risking prosecution, Random House first had to orchestrate a court case to prove the book innocent of obscenity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Maybe it’s just a vibe, or as Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once wrote about obscenity: “I know it when I see it.”

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

Anderson founded “The Little Review” in Chicago in 1913 and nurtured it into a publication that moved to New York and Paris — and played a part in the infamous “Ulysses” obscenity trial.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

It sets rules for disclosing sponsors, emergency broadcasts, and content regarding obscenity and decency.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025

Kochu Maria was sure that Ettu was an obscenity in English and was waiting for a suitable opportunity to complain about Estha to Mammachi.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy




Vocabulary lists containing obscenity