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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Recent Examples of dirty word
At the Abundance movement’s largest-ever gathering, with its manifesto still on the best-seller lists, its biggest champions wrestled openly with its status as a dirty word in US politics.
—
David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Learn To Talk About Money Without Apologizing One of the biggest mistakes new professionals make is treating salary like a dirty word.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Learn To Talk About Money Without Apologizing One of the biggest mistakes new professionals make is treating salary like a dirty word.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
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But, because of the fragile nature of the pumpkin, Bierton understands that it’s not meant to last, which is both a blessing and a curse.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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The pic, from director Marcel Walz and Anathema LLC, follows what happens when a carefree night of partying takes a sinister turn when a group of friends stumble upon an ancient curse and are forced to survive until dawn as a malevolent force begins hunting them.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Visitors of years past swear by their trick-or-treating hauls from these affluent neighborhoods, specifically the homes of Marissa Meyer (Professorville), Mark Zuckerberg (Crescent Park) and Larry Page and Laurene Powell Jobs (Old Palo Alto).—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
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Does Taylor Swift swear on 'The Life of a Showgirl'?—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One of the most basic versions is a progressive relaxation technique, a countdown from 10 to 1 where Perri uses what are known as hypnotic language patterns.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty%20word. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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