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crass

adjective
\ ˈkras How to pronounce crass (audio) \

Definition of crass

1a : gross sense 2a especially : having or indicating such grossness of mind as precludes delicacy and discrimination
b : being beneath one's dignity crass concerns of daily life
c —used as a pejorative intensifier crass flatterycrass propaganda
2 : guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values crass commercialism crass measures of success
Other Words from crass Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about crass

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Other Words from crass

crassly adverb
crassness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for crass

stupid, dull, dense, crass, dumb mean lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions. stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary. stupid students just keeping the seats warm stupid with drink dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock. monotonous work that leaves the mind dull dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas. too dense to take a hint crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy. a crass, materialistic people dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension. too dumb to figure out what's going on

Examples of crass in a Sentence

We are urgently in need of progress, but not if it means the kind of crass complacency that ignores the fact that history for most men and women to date has meant misery and fruitless toil … — Terry Eagleton, Harper's, March 2005 Minor criticism though it was compared to the rest, the most galling calumny of all as far as Gaius Marius was concerned was the perpetual inference that he was unacceptably crass because he had no Greek. — Colleen McCullough, The First Man in Rome, (1990) 1991 He had removed her from that crass monied Middle Atlantic society where she had seemed stilted and fragile. — John Updike, Couples, 1968 A few people seemed shocked by her crass comments. a loudmouthed jerk given to rude jokes and crass comments
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The advertisements that are hung almost everywhere look less like crass commercialism and more like vintage photos of the place from a time when the wall was plastered with billboards for Gem razor blades and Lifebuoy soap. — Charles P. Pierce, SI.com, "Sports, Like The Rest Of The U.S., Still Struggles With Legacy Of Racism," 29 Aug. 2017 Why would a successful—presumably wealthy—person write this, flaunting luxury brand names in such a blunt and crass fashion? — Tim Calkins, Fortune, "Louise Linton Needs a Lesson in Branding," 25 Aug. 2017 The humor is crass and nimble as ever, but reveals a lonesomeness at the core of Julie and Billy’s shared cynicism. — Rachel Syme, New Republic, "Difficult People Delivers a Dose of Political Satire," 10 Aug. 2017 There was not as much luxury and high fashion involved, and definitely less crass consumerism. — Kedric Francis, Orange County Register, "Women of influence: Two girls we said we’d never allow in our house are now part of the family," 20 June 2017 The process has been characterized by secret deliberations — a kind of crude and crass Republican will to power — with no bipartisan support and with Democrats flailing in the wind in protest. — Time, "Most Republicans Don’t Believe Race and Gender Discrimination Is Real," 29 June 2017 But when the singer went to tweet about the importance of our nation's independence, she was met with a crass response. — Devon Ivie, SELF, "Someone Tried to Fat-Shame Kelly Clarkson, And It Didn't Work. At All.," 5 July 2017 Calls for the Texas Rangers to trade Yu Darvish, and crass remarks about the need to extend his contract immediately, started leaking onto social media early Wednesday night. — Jeff Wilson, star-telegram.com, "Indians top Darvish as Rangers play waiting game on trades," 28 June 2017 Lawrence was disturbed by this crass American fame that this journalist was bestowing on him, fame to the point that people were chasing him down the streets. — Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The Forgotten Man Who Transformed Journalism in America," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of crass

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for crass

Latin crassus thick, gross

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More Definitions for crass

crass

adjective
How to pronounce crass (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of crass

disapproving : having or showing no understanding of what is proper or acceptable : rude and insensitive

See the full definition for crass in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on crass

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with crass

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for crass

Spanish Central: Translation of crass

Nglish: Translation of crass for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of crass for Arabic Speakers

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