bawdy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbȯ-dē How to pronounce bawdy (audio)
bawdier; bawdiest
Synonyms of bawdynext
1
: boisterously or humorously indecent
bawdy jokes
2
: obscene, lewd
a bawdy comedian
bawdily
ˈbȯ-də-lē How to pronounce bawdy (audio)
adverb
bawdiness
ˈbȯ-dē-nəs How to pronounce bawdy (audio)
noun

bawdy

2 of 2

noun

: bawdry sense 2

Synonyms of bawdy

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Adjective

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Examples of bawdy in a Sentence

Adjective a bawdy film that is not appropriate for children a bawdy comment about someone you work with could get you fired
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Wicker, a bawdy fairytale from husband-and-wife team Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, is Hollywood’s latest foray into monster romance. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026 Fischer and Wilson’s bawdy fable is predominately about how this flammable hunk makes the rest of the villagers burn up with jealousy. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 In Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo’s La Bola Negra (Netflix), Cruz plays a bawdy cabaret singer entertaining troops during the Spanish Civil War. — Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 Cruz surfaces in it as a bawdy cabaret singer, a role the size of a cameo that critics off the Croisette and now here at Telluride have already tagged a scene-stealer. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bawdy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

bawd + -y entry 1

Noun

probably from bawdy entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bawdy was circa 1513

Phrases Containing bawdy

Rhymes for bawdy

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Browse Nearby Words

bawdry
bawdy
bawdy house
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Cite this Entry

“Bawdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bawdy. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bawdy

adjective
ˈbȯd-ē
bawdier; bawdiest
: morally objectionable : obscene
bawdily
ˈbȯd-ᵊl-ē
adverb
bawdiness
ˈbȯd-ē-nəs
noun
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