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
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 dirty word
There are a lot of people who see efficiency in agriculture as kind of a dirty word but efficiency saves resources.
—
Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
Laura Washington: Donald Trump achieves a notorious distinction in his first 100 days
DEI is under attack by Trump, who sees diversity as a dirty word, even a crime.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Compromise is not a dirty word.
—CBS News, 9 Mar. 2025
In many parts of the country, NAFTA is still a dirty word.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
Laura Washington: Donald Trump achieves a notorious distinction in his first 100 days
DEI is under attack by Trump, who sees diversity as a dirty word, even a crime.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Compromise is not a dirty word.
—CBS News, 9 Mar. 2025
In many parts of the country, NAFTA is still a dirty word.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
-
After coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 American League Championship Series, the Red Sox not only broke their World Series curse that year, but went on to defeat the Yankees in the teams' next two postseason battles in 2018 and 2021.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The Grudge Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is an American nurse living in Tokyo who is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t pretend the cure for coarse speech is a swear jar.—
Eric Preven,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Taylor and Hinkle swear by bonnets, while Royal and others recommend tying longer styles into a loose bun or braid before wrapping.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That could be something as simple as making sure the Care for All resources are in every language, through to adapting the charity partners the company works with.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Does this language feel robust enough?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty%20word. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share