vulgar
/'vʌlgə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking sophistication or good taste; coarse and offensive: "vulgar" describes something that is indecent, crude, or offensive in a way that shows a lack of refinement or sensitivity to what is considered proper.
- Of or relating to the common people; vernacular: "vulgar" can refer to the language or customs of ordinary people, as opposed to the learned or elite. This meaning is often historical or technical.
- Commonplace or ordinary: In a dated or specialized sense, "vulgar" can mean something that is common or prevalent.
Usage and Examples
As an adjective (lacking taste/refinement):
- He told a vulgar joke that offended many people at the dinner party.
- The graffiti was criticized for its vulgar language and imagery.
- She found his loud and vulgar behavior at the concert embarrassing.
As an adjective (relating to common language/people):
- The poet chose to write in the vulgar tongue so that more people could understand his work.
- "Ain't" was once considered a vulgarism, a feature of vulgar speech.
As an adjective (commonplace - dated):
- In earlier centuries, scholars distinguished between Latin and the vulgar languages of Europe.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
"The vulgar" (noun, plural): A collective term for ordinary people, the masses. This usage is now archaic and can carry a condescending tone.
- The aristocracy often looked down upon the tastes of the vulgar.
"Vulgar fraction" (mathematics): A simple fraction where the numerator and denominator are both integers (e.g., ½, ¾), as opposed to a decimal fraction. This is a standard technical term.
- Please express your answer as a vulgar fraction.
Variants and Related Words
Vulgarly (adverb): In a vulgar manner.
- He was vulgarly dressed for the formal event.
Vulgarity (noun): The quality or state of being vulgar; a vulgar act or expression.
- The vulgarity of his comments was shocking.
- She was tired of the constant vulgarities in the film.
Vulgarism (noun): A word or expression that is considered coarse or unrefined.
- Some grammarians still classify certain contractions as vulgarisms.
Vulgarize (verb): To make vulgar or common; to debase.
- Critics accused the media of vulgarizing the serious issue.
Synonyms
- Coarse: Rough or harsh in texture or manner; lacking refinement.
- Crude: In a natural or raw state; not processed or refined; also, offensively direct or simple.
- Uncouth: Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.
- Tasteless: Lacking aesthetic or social taste.
- Common (in the sense of lacking refinement): Of the ordinary kind; not distinguished by superior qualities.
- Vernacular (for the language sense): The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people of a country or region.
Antonyms
- Refined: Elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste.
- Polished: Refined, sophisticated, or elegant.
- Cultured: Characterized by refined taste and manners and good education.
- Decorous: In keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained.
- Genteel: Polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or exaggerated way.
Idioms and Fixed Phrases
- Vulgar display of wealth/power: An ostentatious and tasteless show of one's riches or influence, intended to impress others but often perceived as crass.
- The mansion's gold-plated fixtures were seen as a vulgar display of wealth.
Adjective
- conspicuously and tastelessly indecent
- coarse language
- a crude joke
- crude behavior
- an earthy sense of humor
- a revoltingly gross expletive
- a vulgar gesture
- full of language so vulgar it should have been edited
- being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language
- common parlance
- a vernacular term
- vernacular speakers
- the vulgar tongue of the masses
- the technical and vulgar names for an animal species
- of or associated with the great masses of people
- the common people in those days suffered greatly
- behavior that branded him as common
- his square plebeian nose
- a vulgar and objectionable person
- the unwashed masses
- lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
- he had coarse manners but a first-rate mind
- behavior that branded him as common
- an untutored and uncouth human being
- an uncouth soldier--a real tough guy
- appealing to the vulgar taste for violence
- the vulgar display of the newly rich