ribald
1 of 2adjective
ribald
2 of 2noun
Synonyms
Adjective
- bawdy
- blue
- coarse
- crude
- dirty
- filthy
- foul
- gross
- gutter
- impure
- indecent
- lascivious
- lewd
- locker-room
- nasty
- obscene
- pornographic
- porny
- profane
- raunchy
- smutty
- stag
- trashy
- unprintable
- vulgar
- wanton
- X-rated
Example Sentences
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 But Beforeigners eschews the supernatural, and the campier teen soap elements, to deliver a thoughtful, moving, and often quite ribald and funny tale of various worlds colliding. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2020 Later, Society members on the city commission pulled funding from a chamber-of-commerce event, citing concerns about an allegedly ribald country-and-western band. Emma Green, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2019 The Los Angeles artist, known for her ribald depictions of middle-aged men and babies (and baby men) wreaking all manner of havoc (bodily and otherwise), is presenting a series of paintings and videos. Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2019 The Los Angeles artist, known for her ribald depictions of middle-aged men and babies (and baby men) wreaking all manner of havoc (bodily and otherwise), is presenting a new series of paintings and videos. Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019 Some more-than-meets-the-eye introspection punctuated with a ribald quip. Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 26 Aug. 2019 Haywood discussed her campaign on a recent afternoon at her two-story brick home on the South Side of Chicago, showing a ribald sense of humor and a gift for gab. Malika Andrews, New York Times, 8 May 2018 See More Word History
Adjective
Middle English ribaud person of low status, scoundrel, lecher, from Anglo-French, from Old French riber to be debauched, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rīban to be in heat, copulate, literally, to rub
Adjective
circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined above
ribald
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- vulgar
- obscene
- pornographic
- bawdy
- nasty
- foul
- dirty
- filthy
- raunchy
- suggestive
- crude
- lascivious
- lewd
- profane
- naughty
- gross
- smutty
- indecent
- offensive
- unprintable
- blue
- coarse
- unpleasant
- obnoxious
- unacceptable
- trashy
- disgusting
- gutter
- wanton
- impure
- abusive
- undesirable
- stag
- unwanted
- X-rated
- salacious
- risqué
- porny
- broad
- infamous
- scatological
- locker-room
- wicked
- indecorous
- racy
- indelicate
- perverted
- depraved
- earthy
- barnyard
- soft
- salty
- kinky
- off-color
- off
- immodest
- louche
- low
- gamy
- perverse
- objectionable
- unbecoming
- unwelcome
- off-colored
- repulsive
- revolting
- loathsome
- scurrilous
- repugnant
- distasteful
- repellent
- exceptionable
- debasing
- abhorrent
- gamey
- reprehensible
- censurable
- coarse-grained
- atrocious
- blamable
- blameworthy
- repellant
- soft-core
- hard-core
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wholesome
- puritanical
- prudish
- priggish
- decent
- staid
- clean
- genteel
- polite
- decorous
- innocuous
- straitlaced
- proper
- respectable
- pleasant
- seemly
- correct
- G-rated
- prim
- nice
- appropriate
- straightlaced
- agreeable
- inoffensive
- acceptable
- desirable
- suitable
- welcome
- pleasing
- nonobscene
- pure
- Victorian
- meet
- virginal
- becoming
- perfect
- fit
- immaculate
- spotless
- endorsed
- approved
- sanctioned
- indorsed
Synonyms & Similar Words
- spicy
- suggestive
- bawdy
- risqué
- lewd
- vulgar
- racy
- naughty
- blue
- salty
- off-color
- gamy
- off
- off-colored
- crude
- obscene
- pornographic
- coarse
- gamey
- nasty
- raunchy
- leering
- lascivious
- foul
- filthy
- smutty
- warm
- indecent
- dirty
- earthy
- barnyard
- prurient
- unprintable
- indecorous
- gross
- indelicate
- unpublishable
- gutter
- stag
- immodest
- X-rated
- porny
- coarse-grained
- locker-room
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- innocuous
- decent
- clean
- puritanical
- inoffensive
- G-rated
- prudish
- priggish
- staid
- straightlaced
- straitlaced
- genteel
- decorous
- nonobscene
- polite
- prim
- respectable
- seemly
- proper
- nice
- correct
- Victorian
Synonym Chooser
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.
The synonyms coarse and ribald are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.
The meanings of gross and ribald largely overlap; however, gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.
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.
The words vulgar and ribald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.