dirty word

Definition of dirty wordnext
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression I'm afraid I won't be much help on the trip—the only Spanish I know is a handful of dirty words

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 dirty word Too many in the media see conservatism as a dirty word. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026 It’s viewed by Hollywood artists as a dirty word. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 Plastic is a dirty word here, and the resort has virtually banned it throughout. Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026 Regime change isn’t a dirty word when the regime is among the most vicious in the world. Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
  • The pressure that comes with ending a beloved TV show is both a blessing and a curse.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 19 June 2026
  • Their greatest gifts are their biggest curses.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The event finds more than 20,000 people participating in an annual bar crawl throughout the city while dressed in their best holiday attire, tackiest Santa Claus costumes, and ugliest Christmas swears.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Kennedy could be heard hurling swears at the Swedish team.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • AIs can communicate with us using our language.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
  • Mamdani, proud of his socialist values, had developed a language for communicating a collective, interdependent vision of city life through his consistent emphasis on affordability.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty%20word. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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