swear word

noun

variants or less commonly swearword
: a profane or obscene oath or word

Examples of swear word in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed reported using swear word substitutions in certain situations. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2023 In 2016, Hahn told PEOPLE that her then 7-year-old daughter used her first swear word. Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 31 July 2023 The term became a swear word in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, after the government engineered a rescue of big banks and other financial firms using taxpayer money, with little to no consequences for the executives who made bad bets that brought the financial system close to the abyss. Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2023 My daughter said her first proper swear word. Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 19 Dec. 2022 Schitt’s Creek for a swear word. Natalie Morin, refinery29.com, 7 Oct. 2020 What makes a swear word? Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2020 You guys suck, every swear word in the book, up and down. cleveland, 6 Jan. 2023 Working with a second set of fluent speakers, the researchers requested that the individuals identify which word in a pair of imaginary, invented words was a swear word, based solely on its sound. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2022

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

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swear word was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near swear word

Cite this Entry

“Swear word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swear%20word. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

swearword

noun
swear·​word ˈswa(ə)r-ˌwərd How to pronounce swearword (audio)
ˈswe(ə)r-
: a bad or vulgar word
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