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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
He was also convicted of one misdemeanor count of hate crime assault in 2017 after punching a Filipino and Turkish man multiple times and calling him a racial slur, leading to a one-year sentence in county jail. Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 24 June 2025 For many, her exit was likely welcome – before the show even premiered, the 27-year-old Miami businesswoman became the subject of controversy when several clips of her using a racial slur on a podcast surfaced. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 June 2025
Verb
For strokes, look for face drooping, inability to smile properly or equally on both sides, slurring of words and difficulty raising the arms. Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 During his performance on Saturday, June 21, at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pa., the country star began slurring his words during the first few songs of his set. Marina Watts, People.com, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for slur

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slur. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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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