dirty word
noun
: a word, expression, or idea that is disagreeable or unpopular in a particular frame of reference
Synonyms
Examples of dirty word in a Sentence
The movie is just a lot of sex, violence, and dirty words.
They regard “taxes” as a dirty word.
The way he acts, you'd think compassion was a dirty word.
Recent Examples on the Web
Feck may not quite be one of the seven dirty words, but that didn’t stop Golden Globes censors from pulling the trigger when Oppenheimer’s Cillian Murphy said it during his acceptance speech.
—
Justin Curto, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2024
And when curiosity means uncovering stories with the potential to upset or embarrass the preferred demographic, curiosity becomes a dirty word.
—Becket Adams, National Review, 24 Dec. 2023
Cards Against Humanity provides instant fun, even at the most dull parties or awkward social events, since there’s just something about dirty words in absurd contexts.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2023
For some eco-activists with an eye trained toward a bigger picture, cleanup has become something of a dirty word.
—Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023
Unhappy is not a dirty word One of my favorite Friends episodes is the one in which Phoebe brings a date to a wedding party.
—Emma Firth, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023
Unfortunately, compromise long ago became a dirty word on the right—a sign of personal weakness, if not venal corruption.
—Robert Schlesinger, The New Republic, 28 Sep. 2023
But sometimes anthropomorphizing gets treated as a dirty word.
—Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2023
In an industry where aging is treated like a dirty word, Sophie Carbonari likes to curse.
—Caitlin Raux Gunther, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Apr. 2023
Justin Curto, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2024
And when curiosity means uncovering stories with the potential to upset or embarrass the preferred demographic, curiosity becomes a dirty word.
—Becket Adams, National Review, 24 Dec. 2023
Cards Against Humanity provides instant fun, even at the most dull parties or awkward social events, since there’s just something about dirty words in absurd contexts.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2023
For some eco-activists with an eye trained toward a bigger picture, cleanup has become something of a dirty word.
—Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023
Unhappy is not a dirty word One of my favorite Friends episodes is the one in which Phoebe brings a date to a wedding party.
—Emma Firth, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023
Unfortunately, compromise long ago became a dirty word on the right—a sign of personal weakness, if not venal corruption.
—Robert Schlesinger, The New Republic, 28 Sep. 2023
But sometimes anthropomorphizing gets treated as a dirty word.
—Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2023
In an industry where aging is treated like a dirty word, Sophie Carbonari likes to curse.
—Caitlin Raux Gunther, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dirty word.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirty%20word. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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