as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
unleashed a slew of expletives upon losing the tennis match
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expletive
But this season many chanted expletives during fixtures against Fulham and Crystal Palace.
—
Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Well, what the (expletive) does that mean?
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
To be sure, protesters have often engaged in hostile behavior, hurling expletives, getting in agents’ faces and occasionally becoming violent.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 14 Apr. 2026
The man pushed Littrell's phone away, and the two began filming each other and hurling expletives.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expletive
Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Well, what the (expletive) does that mean?
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
To be sure, protesters have often engaged in hostile behavior, hurling expletives, getting in agents’ faces and occasionally becoming violent.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 14 Apr. 2026
The man pushed Littrell's phone away, and the two began filming each other and hurling expletives.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expletive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expletive
Noun
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As words have incantatory power to shift elements of fate, as well as matters of the heart, this project calls forward questions around an alleged family curse from Nagasaki and the writing process as its own counter-spell.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Press conferences can be a blessing and a curse for football managers.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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The event finds more than 20,000 people participating in an annual bar crawl throughout the city while dressed in their best holiday attire, tackiest Santa Claus costumes, and ugliest Christmas swears.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
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Kennedy could be heard hurling swears at the Swedish team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong apologized for using vulgar language in a heated exchange with a fan during Sunday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
In 1996, Fuhrman pleaded no contest to perjury for falsely denying his use of racist language.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
There's some adult language There are several elements of adult language throughout the film, including minor instances of profanity and several passive insults.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
Just this insane profanity-laden tirade that went on and on and on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His nanny was his fierce protector and insulated him from the depredations of Nazis and their enablers, baptizing him and teaching him to handily hurl anti-Jewish epithets to fit in.—
Ron Kampeas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
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The moral decay of Karensville might as well be Charlottesville and the epithet-spewing McLeoud behaves too much like myriad red-state lawmen for comfort.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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
Noun
-
He’d just been followed down a country highway by an angry mob, which screamed cusses and gave him the finger.—
Chris Smith,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
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And, when the alarm wails hours before dawn, human cusses of angry protest join the chorus of budget appliances failing before their time.—
Virginia Konchan,
The New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Expletive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expletive. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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