gross
1 of 4adjective
ˈgrōs 
1
a(1)
: glaringly noticeable usually because of inexcusable badness or objectionableness
a gross error
(2)
: out-and-out, utter
a gross injustice
b
: visible without the aid of a microscope
a gross lesion
c
archaic : immediately obvious
Now to all sense 'tis gross you love my son.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
a
: coarse in nature or behavior : unrefined
has gross table manners
b
: gravely deficient in civility or decency : crudely vulgar
merely gross, a scatological rather than a pornographic impropriety Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley c
informal : inspiring disgust or distaste
That sandwich looks gross.
3
a
: of, relating to, or dealing with general aspects or broad distinctions
a gross outline of the plan
b
: consisting of an overall total exclusive of deductions
gross income
compare net 4
a
: big, bulky
b
: growing or spreading with excessive luxuriance
a gross riot of vegetation
5
: made up of material or perceptible elements
6
: deficient in knowledge : ignorant, untutored
7
archaic : not fastidious in taste : undiscriminating
grossly adverb
grossness noun
gross
2 of 4verb
grossed; grossing; grosses
transitive verb
: to earn or bring in (an overall total) exclusive of deductions (as for taxes or expenses)
The movie grossed over 100 million dollars.
grosser noun
gross
3 of 4noun (1)
1
: overall total exclusive of deductions
The company's gross doubled in five years.
2
obsolete : amount, sum
gross
4 of 4noun (2)
plural gross
: an aggregate of 12 dozen things
a gross of pencils
Synonyms
Adjective
- bawdy
- blue
- coarse
- crude
- dirty
- filthy
- foul
- gutter
- impure
- indecent
- lascivious
- lewd
- locker-room
- nasty
- obscene
- pornographic
- porny
- profane
- raunchy
- ribald
- smutty
- stag
- trashy
- unprintable
- vulgar
- wanton
- X-rated
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective They have suffered a gross injustice. She has a gross habit of chewing on the ends of her hair. Verb They grossed $50,000 before taxes.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Verb, and Noun (1)
Middle English grosse, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French gros large, thick, whole, from Late Latin grossus coarse
Noun (2)
Middle English gros, probably from Anglo-French grosse sum, whole, from feminine of gros
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c
Verb
1884, in the meaning defined above
Noun (1)
1579, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing gross
Kids Definition
gross 1 of 3
adjective
ˈgrōs
grosser; grossest
1
: noticeably bad : glaring
a gross error
2
: disgusting
a gross habit
3
: consisting of a whole before anything is subtracted
gross earnings
4
: showing poor manners : vulgar
gross
2 of 3noun
: the whole before anything is deducted
gross
3 of 3noun
plural gross
: twelve dozen
Medical Definition
gross
adjective
ˈgrōs
1
a
: glaringly or flagrantly obvious
b
: visible without the aid of a microscope : macroscopic
gross lesions
compare occult 2
: growing or spreading with excessive or abnormal luxuriance
3
: of, relating to, or dealing with general aspects or broad distinctions
important to understand the gross behavior of the sexually responding animal A. C. Kinsey
A. C. Kinsey Legal Definition
gross 1 of 3
adjective
ˈgrōs
1
: flagrant or extreme especially in badness or offensiveness : of very blameworthy character
a gross violation of the rules of ethics
a gross abuse of trust
2
: consisting of an overall total exclusive of deductions
gross annual earnings
compare net gross
2 of 3noun
: overall total exclusive of deductions
gross
3 of 3transitive verb
: to earn or bring in (an overall total) exclusive of deductions (as for taxes or expenses)
Biographical Definition
Gross
biographical name
ˈgrōs
David J(onathan) 1941– American physicist
gross 1 of 3
adjective
1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society he was thrown out of class for making a gross gesture Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- obscene
- vulgar
- pornographic
- nasty
- foul
- dirty
- filthy
- disgusting
- crude
- unacceptable
- unpleasant
- suggestive
- indecent
- coarse
- offensive
- obnoxious
- blue
- naughty
- undesirable
- trashy
- raunchy
- lascivious
- lewd
- impure
- unwanted
- profane
- gutter
- smutty
- wanton
- abusive
- bawdy
- unprintable
- ribald
- broad
- porny
- stag
- revolting
- repulsive
- wicked
- perverted
- low
- infamous
- scatological
- indelicate
- repugnant
- locker-room
- X-rated
- salacious
- depraved
- off
- soft
- indecorous
- loathsome
- risqué
- salty
- abhorrent
- unbecoming
- objectionable
- unwelcome
- perverse
- immodest
- gamy
- earthy
- repellent
- kinky
- distasteful
- racy
- barnyard
- off-colored
- atrocious
- reprehensible
- exceptionable
- off-color
- debasing
- louche
- gamey
- censurable
- scurrilous
- coarse-grained
- repellant
- blamable
- blameworthy
- soft-core
- hard-core
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wholesome
- clean
- decent
- correct
- puritanical
- proper
- prudish
- acceptable
- priggish
- respectable
- innocuous
- nice
- polite
- prim
- appropriate
- decorous
- desirable
- staid
- nonobscene
- straitlaced
- pleasant
- pure
- inoffensive
- genteel
- seemly
- agreeable
- G-rated
- suitable
- perfect
- straightlaced
- welcome
- pleasing
- meet
- becoming
- immaculate
- spotless
- fit
- virginal
- Victorian
- sanctioned
- approved
- endorsed
- indorsed
2
as in fat
having an excess of body fat a very gross cat trying to squeeze through a small opening in the fence Synonyms & Similar Words
- fat
- plump
- full
- fleshy
- round
- blubbery
- heavy
- thick
- corpulent
- overweight
- obese
- pudgy
- chubby
- lardy
- ripe
- stout
- husky
- tubby
- rotund
- podgy
- soft
- dumpy
- plumpish
- roly-poly
- bulky
- replete
- flabby
- portly
- hefty
- beefy
- chunky
- squat
- weighty
- stocky
- stubby
- brawny
- thickset
- ample
- paunchy
- burly
- heavyset
- potbellied
- hippy
- zaftig
- buxom
- endomorphic
- corn-fed
- zoftig
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- thin
- angular
- bony
- skinny
- lean
- slender
- skeletal
- puny
- spare
- gaunt
- slight
- haggard
- wasted
- lanky
- sinewy
- cadaverous
- slim
- lank
- rawboned
- scrawny
- emaciated
- pinched
- stringy
- weedy
- boney
- scraggy
- waspish
- spindly
- reedy
- svelte
- rangy
- twiggy
- anorexic
- willowy
- sylphlike
- spindling
- ectomorphic
3
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste she haughtily refused to mix with what she called "the gross masses who are unappreciative of fine art" Synonyms & Similar Words
- crass
- vulgar
- rude
- crude
- coarse
- common
- clumsy
- low
- rough
- lowbrow
- uncouth
- tasteless
- uncultured
- unrefined
- unpolished
- uncultivated
- incult
- insensible
- rugged
- raffish
- indelicate
- ungentlemanly
- roughneck
- illiberal
- clownish
- ill-bred
- unsophisticated
- boorish
- lumpish
- lowbred
- insensitive
- thoughtless
- inconsiderate
- tacky
- rustic
- cloddish
- rough-hewn
- loutish
- churlish
- uncivilized
- oafish
- inelegant
- lubberly
- barbaric
- barbarous
- provincial
- mannerless
- graceless
- countrified
- unmannerly
- unmannered
- rustical
- animallike
- countryfied
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smooth
- tasteful
- civilized
- cultured
- genteel
- polished
- aristocratic
- refined
- sensitive
- cultivated
- elegant
- graceful
- restrained
- ultrarefined
- patrician
- sophisticated
- well-bred
- gracious
- courtly
- thoughtful
- considerate
- urbane
- citified
4
as in blatant
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad a gross mistake that some proofreader should have caught Synonyms & Similar Words
- blatant
- glaring
- obvious
- egregious
- flagrant
- conspicuous
- terrible
- patent
- striking
- sheer
- pronounced
- outstanding
- noticeable
- distinct
- rank
- dramatic
- monstrous
- downright
- shocking
- remarkable
- clear
- outright
- marked
- utter
- shameful
- plain
- outrageous
- heinous
- abominable
- absolute
- awful
- salient
- notable
- showy
- deplorable
- emphatic
- atrocious
- evident
- visible
- discernible
- detectable
- prominent
- arrant
- stark
- perceptible
- out-and-out
- observable
- arresting
- execrable
- splashy
- lousy
- eye-catching
- preposterous
- discernable
- wretched
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- imperceptible
- inconspicuous
- insignificant
- trifling
- small
- trivial
- inconsiderable
- inconsequential
- slight
- unobtrusive
- unnoticeable
- invisible
- hidden
- concealed
5
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the little boy insisted that worms are gross Synonyms & Similar Words
- disgusting
- ugly
- sickening
- awful
- horrible
- hideous
- shocking
- obscene
- obnoxious
- nasty
- dreadful
- offensive
- repulsive
- revolting
- unpleasant
- appalling
- repugnant
- evil
- abominable
- gruesome
- loathsome
- horrid
- scandalous
- abhorrent
- nauseating
- terrible
- odious
- horrific
- horrendous
- distasteful
- foul
- noxious
- repellent
- disturbing
- nauseous
- undesirable
- rancid
- vile
- noisome
- fulsome
- monstrous
- repellant
- unwanted
- horrifying
- objectionable
- detestable
- hateful
- heinous
- miserable
- unhealthy
- unwholesome
- disagreeable
- contemptible
- despicable
- grim
- sick
- ghastly
- unspeakable
- atrocious
- grisly
- unwelcome
- brackish
- macabre
- nightmarish
- unsavory
- frightful
- sickly
- execrable
- lurid
- lousy
- exceptionable
- unholy
- sickish
- ungodly
- uncivilized
- upsetting
- dislikable
- barbarous
- dislikeable
- hard
- off-putting
- distressing
- unchristian
- grewsome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- innocuous
- acceptable
- attractive
- sweet
- delicious
- desirable
- inoffensive
- delightful
- pleasant
- appealing
- gratifying
- satisfying
- heavenly
- alluring
- nice
- agreeable
- dreamy
- delectable
- enjoyable
- congenial
- luscious
- palatable
- welcome
- pleasurable
- savory
- likable
- pleasing
- likeable
- darling
- felicitous
- savoury
- unobjectionable
- inviting
- dulcet
- blessed
- wholesome
- unexceptionable
- healthy
- healthful
- blest
- salutary
- salubrious
- restorative
- delightsome
gross
2 of 3noun
1
as in total
Synonyms & Similar Words
- total
- amount
- whole
- sum
- score
- count
- recount
- census
- tally
- tale
2
as in revenue
Synonyms & Similar Words
- revenue
- receipts
- income
- profit
- earnings
- net
- payoff
- proceeds
- gain
- winnings
- return
- bag
- spoils
- appropriation
- booty
- swag
- yield
- haul
- loot
- plunder
- catch
- collection
- take
- bounty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loss
- deduction
- subtraction
gross
3 of 3verb
as in to net
Synonyms & Similar Words
- net
- gain
- realize
- knock down
- pull down
- land
- draw
- attain
- capture
- reap
- bag
- garner
- earn
- clear
- obtain
- accumulate
- acquire
- achieve
- win
- come by
- bring in
- procure
- accomplish
- carry
- secure
- score
- make
- get
- amass
- notch (up)
- catch
- occupy
- rack up
- take over
- annex
- pick up
- recapture
- regain
- remake
- reattain
- reacquire
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lose
- pay
- forfeit
- give
- yield
- grant
- accord
- surrender
- give up
- hand over
- relinquish
- part (with)
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of gross are coarse, obscene, ribald, and vulgar. While all these words mean "offensive to good taste or morals," gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.
gross eating habits
The synonyms coarse and gross are sometimes interchangeable, but coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.
found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive
Although the words obscene and gross have much in common, obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.
obscene language not allowed on the air
The meanings of ribald and gross largely overlap; however, ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.
entertained the campers with ribald folk songs
While in some cases nearly identical to gross, vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.
a loud vulgar belch
Phrases Containing gross
- harmonizes (with)
- harmonizes with
- harmonizing
- harmonizing (with)
- harmonizing with
- harmonograms
- harmonograph
- harmonographs
- harmonometers
- harmony
- harmony of the spheres
- harmony of vowels
- harmost
- harmosties
- harmosts
- harmotome
- harms
- Harmsworth
- harn
- harness
- harness bull
- harness cask
- harness cop
- harness hitch
- harness horse