From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishobsceneob‧scene /əbˈsiːn/ ●○○ adjective 1 SYRUDE/OBSCENErelating to sex in a way that is shocking and offensive → rude Bradford made an obscene gesture. obscene phone calls (=calls from an unknown person saying obscene things) obscene photographs2 extremely unfair, immoral, or unpleasant, especially in a way that makes you angry Some players earn obscene amounts of money. an obscene act of cruelty —obscenely adverb
Examples from the Corpus
obscene• This guy's thighs were so huge, it was obscene!• Indeed, the advent of such a figure on the scene of history renders sacrifices unnecessary, if not actually obscene.• Making $ 10 million or $ 15 million or $ 20 million for a movie is obscene.• 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' was banned as an obscene book.• She stomped around the room with a wastepaper basket, collecting the obscene dolls.• The long legs parted as the pale blue water took her, like an obscene gesture at Liz.• The driver cursed at him and made an obscene gesture.• The kids standing on the seats to cast shadows of rabbits, donkeys, or obscene gestures up on to the gigantic screen.• He was charged with smuggling obscene materials into the UK.• It glistens, pinky-brown, faintly obscene, on her finger.• You wouldn't believe the obscene profits these oil companies are making.• They got hot under their starched collars about an obscene profusion of textual practices.obscene phone calls• Probably a woman trying to avoid obscene phone calls.• The hate campaign began again, including obscene phone calls.• From the early days Kylie was plagued by obscene phone calls and hate mail.Origin obscene (1500-1600) Old French Latin obscenus 