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 …

—Ralph Waldo 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 of slur

Noun (1)

• insult
• sarcasm

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

For context, the comments published by the Post were to friends using the slur in what might be described as an attempt to be hip. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026

In the video posted to Instagram, a woman, now identified as officer Ashley Gonzalez, can be seen talking while using derogatory comments about Black people and repeatedly using racial slurs. —Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

Verb

Director Scott Ellis understands all this, and thus the admirably specific physical business and slurred verbosity in his gently outré revival really makes for quite the amusing diversion. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

Director Scott Ellis understands all this and thus the admirably specific physical business and slurred verbosity in his gently outré revival really makes for quite the amusing diversion. —Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for slur

• birr
• blur
• bur
• cur
• er
• fir
• fur
• furr
• gurr
• her
• murr
• myrrh

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