dirty word

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 Butter doesn't have to be a dirty word. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2024 Comedy was a dirty word for us in the ‘90s. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2024 Some fear the trend away from DEI will accelerate now that Trump has turned it into a dirty word. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025 While diversity, equity and inclusion have become dirty words in Washington, D.C, that’s not true among local beer professionals. Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
  • Christopher Walken stars as a school teacher who comes out of a coma with a gift that feels more like a terrifying curse.
    EW.com, EW.com, 23 May 2025
  • While Rory McIlroy finally broke his 11-year curse to claim the green jacket, Bradley struggled, missing the cut with a 3-over-par.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Bonus: For every 100ml bottle sold, Omorovicza donates 5% to Water.org, supporting global access to safe water. Jones Road Miracle Balm, $40 Women over 50 swear by this award-winning, Bobbi Brown-founded brand for its nourishing and hydrating qualities.
    Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The word was forbidden in their household and treated like a swear.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Photosynthesis was such a profound development; so were eukaryotes, nervous systems and language.
    Philip Ball, Wired News, 8 June 2025
  • The government's 2011 population census found that a little more than 10% of Indians fluently speak the language.
    Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty%20word. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

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