crass

adjective \ˈkras\

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

Full Definition of CRASS

a : gross 6a; 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 flattery> <crass propaganda>

: guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values <crass commercialism> <crass measures of success>

— crass·ly adverb

— crass·ness noun

See crass defined for English-language learners

See crass defined for kids

Examples of CRASS

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
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
[+]more [-]hide

Origin of CRASS

Latin crassus thick, gross

First Known Use: circa 1625

Related to CRASS

Synonyms: common, coarse, crude, gross, ill-bred, illiberal [archaic], incult, insensible, low, lowbred, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, roughneck, rude, rugged, tasteless, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar

Antonyms: civilized, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polished, refined, smooth, tasteful, ultrarefined, well-bred

Synonym Discussion of 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>.

Rhymes with CRASS

ass, bass, brass, class, frass, gas, glass, grass, lass, mass, pass, sass, strass, tasse, vas, wrasse

Learn More About CRASS

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "crass"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "crass"

Nglish: Translation of "crass" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "crass" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: crassamentumPrevious Word in the Dictionary: craspedoteAll Words Near: crass

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up crass? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site