RIBALD Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'ribald' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ribald are coarse , gross , obscene , and vulgar . While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent. // entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

Q: Where would 'coarse' be a reasonable alternative to 'ribald'?

The synonyms coarse and ribald are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language. // found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

Q: When can 'gross' be used instead of 'ribald'?

The meanings of gross and ribald largely overlap; however, gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness. // gross eating habits

Q: In what contexts can 'obscene' take the place of 'ribald'?

While in some cases nearly identical to ribald , obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters. // obscene language not allowed on the air

Q: When might 'vulgar' be a better fit than 'ribald'?

The words vulgar and ribald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding. // a loud vulgar belch

ribald

adjective

ˈri-bəld

Definition of ribald

as in obscene

depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society some of the movie's most ribald, and thus funniest, scenes were cut for showing on broadcast television

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in suggestive

hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent a ribald tale rife with double entendres and racy innuendo

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ribald different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ribald are coarse, gross, obscene, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

Where would coarse be a reasonable alternative to ribald?

The synonyms coarse and ribald are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

When can gross be used instead of ribald?

The meanings of gross and ribald largely overlap; however, gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

In what contexts can obscene take the place of ribald?

While in some cases nearly identical to ribald, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

When might vulgar be a better fit than ribald?

The words vulgar and ribald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of ribald There’s Harley Russell, ribald proprietor and performer at the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Okla. — Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Over the years, the notoriously ribald Stern has interviewed hundreds of actors, comedians, music artists, athletes, politicians and more on his show. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025 Eight years ago that original, decidedly more ribald version, was a surprise hit with gay men. — Rod Stafford Hagwood, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Oct. 2020 But, Brigman found, the men in Stieglitz’s scene often belittled the subject, ogling and making ribald jokes. — Sarah Blackwood, The New Yorker, 11 May 2020 See All Example Sentences for ribald

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribald

Adjective

In Russia, soldiers die at the front by the hundreds of thousands while politically compliant billionaires accumulate obscene fortunes.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
At the next timeout, an announcement was made asking fans to refrain from obscene chants.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscene

Adjective

The effect dissipates somewhat whenever Cahyono resorts to less suggestive, more blatantly surreal imagery.

— Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Though revealing, his version of naked dressing was tantalizingly suggestive rather than explicitly bare.

— Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of suggestive

Adjective

In her smartly vulgar The Seasons (1957), which extends nearly 17 feet, Krasner returns to the subject of rebirth one year after Pollock’s death, depicting abundant forms resembling genitalia.

— John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
While Musgraves' comments received both praise and backlash, one country music legend took exception to the vulgar remarks.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of vulgar

Adjective

The restaurant also makes its own salsas, including roja, verde and a spicier green variety.

— Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
The property collaborated with Nobu and the food is clean and delicious—unsurprisingly, lots of raw fish and produce like spicy microgreens and August-sweet tomatoes grown at Sensei’s hydroponic farm down the road.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spicy

Adjective

On the day of the $50 million demand, a WeChat chat on one of her phones shows pornographic images arriving and being sent back with Victim-1’s face grafted on, the complaint says.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
The filing follows a separate legal battle launched by Meloni in 2024 against a man accused of creating and posting deepfake pornographic images using her likeness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of pornographic

Adjective

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

Definition of bawdy

Adjective

The bodies of Machado and her daughters were discovered days later after a neighbor noticed a foul odor coming from the home.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Caminero pulled Smith’s first-pitch splitter off the left-field foul pole for a two-run homer that gave the Rays a 5-1 lead.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of foul

Adjective

With American Family Field rocking, Ashby reared back and threw a nasty curve that Díaz tried to hold up on.

— Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Of course, there has been some criticism of this plan, as France is experiencing some pretty nasty civil unrest at the moment, but the game will go ahead, with the Saints having been in the country for a few days already.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of nasty

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“Ribald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribald. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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