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 Today, unfortunately, civics has become a dirty word. Ken Burns, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026 Prohibition has been a dirty word in American public policy since the Twenty-First Amendment passed. Charles Fain Lehman, The Atlantic, 4 May 2026 In an era when disco was still a dirty word, the foursome fully embraced dance music. Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026 Sometimes nostalgia can be a dirty word, and Tiga avoids a wholesale rehash of his earlier work by recalibrating his sound to incorporate multiple other electronic genres. Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
  • Despite these flat denials, and no mention of the ‘curse’ before 1990, the mythology only grew as Mayo’s barren years piled up.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • Questions and complaints are frequent and often descend into curse-laden spats.
    Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • The pinky swear proved binding, as Nelson wrote the screenplay within six weeks.
    William Earl, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • Why fill with swears a show that might otherwise have been appointment viewing for the whole family?
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • New and upcoming titles under the deal will carry English subtitles and dubbing in the Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 July 2026
  • Translators still have steady work years after computer translation approached human parity, because there is no ceiling on what can be translated or into how many languages.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 July 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 Jul. 2026.

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