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

In his petition for a protection order, McKinsey, who was transgender, claimed that Chen had directed anti-LGBTQ+ slurs at him and at one of their children, the Mercury News reported. — Terry Chea, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026

McKinsey, who was transgender, claimed his wife framed him in the incident and accused Jang and her parents of abuse and using anti-LGBTQ slurs against him during arguments in a restraining order filed in December 2025, court documents said. — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

What deputies say happened The arresting deputy reported several signs of possible impairment, including bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and difficulty maintaining his balance. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Her words, soft and slurred since a stroke took half of her face, her finger tracing the cross shape in the grounds. — Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 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