Definition

Adjective: 1. Lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence; showing no understanding of what is proper or appropriate. This describes behavior, remarks, or attitudes that are grossly coarse, stupid, or insensitive, often due to a complete lack of awareness or subtlety. 2. So unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility. This emphasizes a crude and obtuse nature, particularly in social or intellectual matters.

Usage

The word "crass" is used to criticize actions, statements, or people perceived as profoundly tasteless, vulgar, or stupidly insensitive. It often implies a failure to recognize social norms or finer feelings. - It typically modifies nouns like behavior, remark, comment, ignorance, commercialism, materialism. - It is a strong, negative adjective.

Examples

• His crass comments about her appearance offended everyone at the table.
• The advertisement was criticized for its crass exploitation of a national tragedy.
• She was shocked by the crass materialism of the newly wealthy guests.
• It was a crass mistake to discuss finances at a funeral.

Advanced Usage

• "Crass stupidity": Emphasizes a particularly blatant and offensive lack of intelligence or thought.
  • The plan failed due to their crass stupidity and inability to foresee the obvious consequences.
• "Crass indifference": Highlights a shockingly coarse and unfeeling lack of concern.
  • The government showed crass indifference to the plight of the homeless during the storm.

Variants and Related Words

• Crassly (adverb): In a crass manner.
  • He crassly interrupted the solemn ceremony with a joke.
• Crassness (noun): The quality of being crass.
  • The sheer crassness of his proposal was astonishing.

Synonyms

• Coarse: Lacking refinement or delicacy.
• Vulgar: Lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined.
• Insensitive: Showing or feeling no concern for others' feelings.
• Obtuse: Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
• Boorish: Rough and bad-mannered.

Antonyms

• Refined: Elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste.
• Sensitive: Quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences; also, having or showing sensitivity to the feelings of others.
• Tactful: Having or showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
• Subtle: So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• Crass commercialism: The objectionable practice of prioritizing profit over all else, especially in a tasteless or exploitative way.
  • The historic site has been ruined by crass commercialism, with souvenir shops on every corner.

Adjective

1. (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility