dysphemism

noun

Definition of dysphemismnext
as in swear

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dysphemism
  1. swear
  2. vulgarism
  3. expletive
  4. obscenity
  5. profanity
  6. swearword
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
Definition of swear
Noun
  • As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.
    — NR Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2020
  • The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.
    — Time, Time, 11 June 2019
Definition of vulgarism
Noun
  • The two of them had been locked together, all elbows and teeth, frothing expletives into each other’s faces.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • When the woman yelled at the driver to stop following her, the man shouted an expletive and threw a glass bottle into her car.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of expletive
Noun
  • The examination showed that Parker and Smith had exchanged dozens of texts, which include obscenities and insults, in the days before Parker's disappearance.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • After most of the sellout crowd filed out Wednesday, one solitary Sox fan stood at his seat under the press box, shouting obscenities about the Guardians and the city of Cleveland.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscenity
Noun
  • Referee Bill Vinovich said afterward that Vrabel was flagged for using profanity toward an official.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • According to disciplinary documents obtained by CBS Colorado, Olson used profanity and made derogatory comments about fellow officers, department command staff, and the department generally while discussing the Craig investigation.
    — Brian Maass, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of profanity
Noun
  • The swearword wasn’t mentioned in the rest of the email.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
Definition of swearword
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.

Browse Nearby Words

dyspeptic
dysphemism
dystopia
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Cite this Entry

“Dysphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dysphemism. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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