slur

1 of 4

noun (1)

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 lessonR. 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

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

Examples of slur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In 2022, a Duke volleyball player said fans attending a match at Brigham Young University had called her a racial slur. Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 According to the complaint, co-workers and supervisors routinely used racial slurs, and employee complaints to human resources went largely unanswered. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 After being fired from the show in 2019 for using slurs, the comedian returned to host as a more thoughtful version of himself. Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2024 Police said the student admitted to using racial slurs in return and pursuing the Holbrook student to his bus after the game, where more derogatory words were exchanged before the assault took place. Kayla Jackson, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 Then, in 2011, cameras caught him calling a referee a gay slur out of frustration. Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2024 The decision came just months after the NFL's Washington team — which was previously named after a word that has a history as a racial slur against Native Americans — dropped its name entirely. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 11 Feb. 2024 This kind of crime might look like a group of white teenagers threatening a Black teenager while using racial slurs, a gay man who is physically assaulted in front of a gay bar, or a bomb threat called into an Islamic center, according to the State Attorney’s website. Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Sometimes there’s a slur to her speech and a droop to her lip that suggest infirmity and instability. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
His words were slurred, a mix of fear and steadfastness in his voice. Emily Ziff Griffin, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024 An officer observed that Castillo allegedly had watery and bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2024 These violent, slurring women are modern-day muses. EW.com, 21 Nov. 2023 The affidavit added that Young’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, and his speech was slurred. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2024 Upon arrival, police found an 18-year-old slurring her words, wearing her pants inside out. Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2024 Ask them to say a simple phrase to gauge if their speech is slurred. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2024 The teacher had repeatedly leveled racist and sexist slurs against the student. Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024 Deputies arrived on the scene and allegedly saw Bennett stumbling while walking and slurring words, the sheriff’s office says, while also claiming his breath test showed his blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit. Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 27 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slur.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of slur was in 1609

Dictionary Entries Near slur

Cite this Entry

“Slur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slur. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

slur

1 of 4 verb
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
2
: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge

More from Merriam-Webster on slur

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