as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
unleashed a slew of expletives upon losing the tennis match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of expletive
No expletive would cover the lazy passing in the build-up, Mads Hermansen straying into the wilderness, the lack of cohesion or urgency.
—
George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Johnson exclaimed while recoiling, seemingly followed by inaudible expletives.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
Upon hearing the truth, Kevin drags his son out of the container, gives him an earful of expletives, and zaps him with a taser baton.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Mischer lost his temper and let out a string of expletives — which went out live on CNN.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expletive
George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Johnson exclaimed while recoiling, seemingly followed by inaudible expletives.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
Upon hearing the truth, Kevin drags his son out of the container, gives him an earful of expletives, and zaps him with a taser baton.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Mischer lost his temper and let out a string of expletives — which went out live on CNN.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expletive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expletive
Noun
-
This wasn't the first time one reduced me to spewing curses, just the first time a robot has accused me of impertinence.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
-
But many are finding that blessing comes with a curse.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The word was forbidden in their household and treated like a swear.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Is this the kind of situation where mild swears seem generally used?—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Police did say what led to the altercation, but sources told TMZ that Saitta and his group had been repeatedly harassing Von and using threatening language.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2025
-
The project exemplifies emerging Catalan talent at Cannes, offering a glimpse into new narrative voices committed to fresh cinematic language.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Simard isn't the only notable figure to drop an uncensored bit of profanity on live television in recent months.—
Joey Nolfi,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
-
Those changes included price cuts or hikes of a few dollars, profanities and altering allergens in certain items.—
Adeel Hassan,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Police said an investigation revealed the man had been sitting in the plaza when the woman approached him and without provocation spat on him while yelling a racial epithet directed at Black people.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The word has become an epithet for garish, reckless growth — but to fix the housing crisis, the country needs more of it.—
Conor Dougherty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
-
The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Noun
-
And, when the alarm wails hours before dawn, human cusses of angry protest join the chorus of budget appliances failing before their time.—
Virginia Konchan,
The New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2024
-
My grandmother extended a ladder up into this tough old cuss of a tree and climbed up, at some risk, to pick the bulging fruit.—
Jim Meddleton,
The Christian Science Monitor,
1 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Expletive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expletive. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share