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
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
Only after the Cold War ended did a neoconservative foreign policy consensus come to dominate the American right—and diplomacy became a dirty word for Republicans.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
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
Only after the Cold War ended did a neoconservative foreign policy consensus come to dominate the American right—and diplomacy became a dirty word for Republicans.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
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The following list contains killer robots, talking cats, deadly curses and period crime dramas.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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The 18-inch model leaves a cavernous space beneath the bed that can accommodate several tote-style storage containers—which could be a blessing or a curse depending on the usual state of your bedroom floor.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The word was forbidden in their household and treated like a swear.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
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Is this the kind of situation where mild swears seem generally used?—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The more frequent the lucky language, the higher a casino ranked on the list.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Police did say what led to the altercation, but sources told TMZ that Saitta and his group had been repeatedly harassing Von and using threatening language.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty%20word. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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