slur

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈslər 

1

a

: an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo : aspersion

b

: a shaming or degrading effect : stain, stigma

2

: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge

slur

2 of 4

verb (1)

slurred; slurring

transitive verb

1

: to cast aspersions on : disparage

slurred his reputation

2

: to make indistinct : obscure

intransitive verb

: to slip so as to cause a slur

—used of a sheet being printed

slur

3 of 4

verb (2)

slurred; slurring

transitive verb

1

a

: to slide or slip over without due mention, consideration, or emphasis

slurred over certain facts

b

: to perform hurriedly : skimp

let him not slur his lesson

—R. W. Emerson

2

: to perform (successive tones of different pitch) in a smooth or connected manner

3

a

: to reduce, make a substitution for, or omit (sounds that would normally occur in an utterance)

b

: to utter with such reduction, substitution, or omission of sounds

his speech was slurred

intransitive verb

1

dialectal, chiefly England : slip, slide

2

: drag, shuffle

slur

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a curved line connecting notes to be sung to the same syllable or performed without a break

b

: the combination of two or more slurred tones

2

: a slurring manner of speech

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• affront
• barb
• brickbat
• cut
• dart
• dig
• dis [slang]
• diss
• epithet
• gird
• indignity
• insult
• name
• offense
• offence
• outrage
• personality
• poke
• put-down
• sarcasm
• slap
• slight

Examples of slur in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a rowdy group of patrons was kicked out of the theater for shouting slurs

your drunken behavior at the wedding has cast a slur on this family

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bud Light recently announced a new partnership with controversial comedian Shane Gillis, who was fired from Saturday Night Live after making a racial slur about Asian people. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2024

Days after the election, a group of neo-Nazis gathered outside a community theater production of Anne Frank’s Diary in Howell, Michigan to shout antisemitic slurs. —Tess Owen, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024

Verb

The claim: Video shows Harris slurring speech after election loss A Nov. 26 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) appears to show Vice President Kamala Harris speaking slowly with dark bags under her eyes. —Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024

The chemical may initially cause symptoms like dizziness, weakness, slurred speech and disinhibition. —Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete English dialect slur thin mud, from Middle English sloor; akin to Middle High German slier mud

Verb (2)

probably from Low German slurrn to shuffle; akin to Middle English sloor mud

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

slur

1 of 4 verb

ˈslər 

slurred; slurring

1

a

: to slide or slip over without proper mention, consideration, or emphasis

b

: to perform hurriedly : skimp

2

: to sing or play successive musical notes of different pitch in a smooth or connected manner

3

: to speak unclearly

slur

2 of 4 noun

1

a

: a curved line connecting notes to be sung or played without a break

b

: the combination of two or more slurred tones

2

: a slurring manner of speech

slur

3 of 4 verb

slurred; slurring

1

: to make an insulting remark about : disparage

2

: to make unclear : obscure

slur

4 of 4 noun

1

a

: damaging criticism

b

: dishonor entry 1 sense 1, shame

2

: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge