crass

[ kras ]

adjective

, crass·er, crass·est.

1. without refinement, delicacy, or sensitivity; gross; obtuse; stupid:

   crass commercialism; a crass misrepresentation of the facts.

   Synonyms: oafish, indelicate, boorish, dull

2. Archaic. thick; coarse.

crass

/ kræs /

adjective

1. stupid; gross

Derived Forms

• ˈcrassly, adverb
• ˈcrassness, noun

Other Words From

• crassly adverb
• crassness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crass¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French, from Latin crassus “fat, thick”

Word History and Origins

Origin of crass¹

C16: from Latin crassus thick, dense, gross

Example Sentences

I’ve found each similarly inspiring moment to be suffocated by those same crass broadcast impulses.

From The Daily Beast

She characterizes her approach as “respectful” and “elevated,” but those are not the first words that come to mind when you hear the crass language she uses in recounting her sexual encounters.

From Time

“On behalf of the staff and players of the Duxbury High School football team, I want to extend my apology for the insensitive, crass and inappropriate language used in the game on March 12th,” Maimaron said in a statement to the Globe.

From Washington Post

In that context, it looks something like a kickback, although Miss Manners hopes that your friend was merely succumbing to the crass idea that payments are always welcome.

From Washington Post

There is no independence, and all of them are rooting for crass political agendas.

From Ozy

Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon labels the show a “crass stunt” on a “bottom-feeding vortex of sadness network.”

From The Daily Beast

Instead, it was superficially crass and, in turn, barely provocative.

From The Daily Beast

By the way, killjoys, American charitable giving goes up by 42 percent during this season of crass materialistic greed and excess.

From The Daily Beast

Brash, crass, and overflowing with wiseass attitude, he remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.

From The Daily Beast

Brash, crass, and sporting a perpetually raised eyebrow, Ash Williams remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.

From The Daily Beast

His psychology is that of the crass materialist—always a rather funny article.

From Project Gutenberg

To tolerate a trifling error inevitably leads to crass heresy.

From Project Gutenberg

How crass and blind had been his anguished spirit when first it quivered under the shock of her disappearance!

From Project Gutenberg

He was fat and crass and ugly, that joss, a fit deity for such a den, and he seemed to nod and to listen!

From Project Gutenberg

I have always liked her, been really fond of her, in fact, but this crass exhibition of bad breeding disgusts me.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boorish
• churlish
• rude
• stupid
• vulgar