1
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
a rap song that is filled with profanities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in vulgarity
the quality or state of being obscene
once notorious for its profanity, that 1950s best seller will strike today's readers as lamentably tame
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of profanity
The company was formed after its predecessor, VidAngel, reorganized in bankruptcy following a $62 million judgment against it for distributing unlicensed content that censored graphic violence, nudity and profanity in films and TV shows.
—
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
Some of the building’s windows had been smashed and profanities scrawled on the walls.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Being attentive to nuances in how curse words are used in different settings can guide you toward a more productive relationship with profanity.
—Stacey Colino, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
But putting the two performances against each other keeps drawing our attention to the phoniness of De Niro’s turn as Genovese, to its prefab energy and programmed profanity.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
Some of the building’s windows had been smashed and profanities scrawled on the walls.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Being attentive to nuances in how curse words are used in different settings can guide you toward a more productive relationship with profanity.
—Stacey Colino, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
But putting the two performances against each other keeps drawing our attention to the phoniness of De Niro’s turn as Genovese, to its prefab energy and programmed profanity.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanity
Noun
-
Homewood’s location on the western shore of Lake Tahoe is both a blessing and a curse.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The annual cost-of-living adjustment Social Security recipients receive is both a blessing and a curse.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The real marvel, in this instance, being the avoidance of vulgarity.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Sainz was spoken to by the FIA’s media delegate over his language on Friday morning in Bahrain ahead of opening practice at the Sakhir circuit.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The language put Sainz at risk of action from the FIA under its misconduct guidelines, which have a range of potential sanctions for repeat offences including fines, points deductions and race bans.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Could a nice good swear on the pitch to express one’s anger stop a player from lashing out physically, channelling their anger through their vocal cords rather than their fists?—
Nick Miller,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The station asked the band not to include the swears.—
Kris Holt,
Forbes,
2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The early setback led to Sabalenka receiving a swift code violation as she was reprimanded for an audible obscenity.—
Staff and news service reports,
Orange County Register,
13 Mar. 2025
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In one of the incidents, someone spray painted an obscenity believed to be directed at Musk before being chased away by a security guard, according to a Loveland police affidavit.—
Colleen Slevin,
The Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Upon hearing the truth, Kevin drags his son out of the container, gives him an earful of expletives, and zaps him with a taser baton.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Mischer lost his temper and let out a string of expletives — which went out live on CNN.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
And, when the alarm wails hours before dawn, human cusses of angry protest join the chorus of budget appliances failing before their time.—
Virginia Konchan,
The New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2024
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My grandmother extended a ladder up into this tough old cuss of a tree and climbed up, at some risk, to pick the bulging fruit.—
Jim Meddleton,
The Christian Science Monitor,
1 May 2024
Noun
-
As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
-
The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Profanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profanity. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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