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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dirty word
In the larger construct, disinformation really is a dirty word.
—
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Even in Hollywood, A-listers like Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, and Katy Perry are soft-launching their post-divorce boyfriends on Instagram and being cheered on for it, showing that maybe divorce—and the fact that a woman has a right to a full and happy life afterwards—is no longer a dirty word.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 14 Nov. 2025
The all-or-nothing approach that has taken hold in Washington, which treats compromise as a dirty word, is the root cause of the dysfunction.
—The Detroit News Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
The man never, never, never says a dirty word.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Even in Hollywood, A-listers like Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, and Katy Perry are soft-launching their post-divorce boyfriends on Instagram and being cheered on for it, showing that maybe divorce—and the fact that a woman has a right to a full and happy life afterwards—is no longer a dirty word.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 14 Nov. 2025
The all-or-nothing approach that has taken hold in Washington, which treats compromise as a dirty word, is the root cause of the dysfunction.
—The Detroit News Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
The man never, never, never says a dirty word.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
-
The family curse was alive and well.—
Jennifer Wolfgram,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Too much focus went on growing the club as a financial juggernaut and investing in the stadium, which went from being their savior to their curse.—
Joe Prince-Wright,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kennedy could be heard hurling swears at the Swedish team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
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And Boring would be that much closer to its 90,000-rider pinkie-swear.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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If a conversation thread gets confusing, rewrite the key points in plain language.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Trump has also asked that Republicans tack on language restricting transgender surgeries and transgender participation in women’s sports — two policies that Republicans successfully used as a political wedge against Democrats in the last election cycle.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty%20word. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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