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expletives

noun

plural of expletive
as in curses
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

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 expletives Some Providence parents shook their heads as the clock wound down; others shouted expletives toward school administrators and Nazareth players. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026 Some voices rose above the crowd shouting expletives and Cooper’s name. — Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026 Loud jeers and expletives from Kansas fans rained upon the Tigers, most of whom were unfazed. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The video traded the genre’s typical easy-breezy style for a mashup of clips where flames rose, expletives flew, and Tiedemann flipped the bird toward the camera at every opportunity. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026 As the mother resumed telling the officer what happened, Ruiz allegedly came back downstairs and used several expletives toward her, police wrote. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026 The Supreme Court decision also protected citizens' right to use expletives, including around police officers. — Cate Charron, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2026 As Hwang and her partner placed the ticket on the car’s windshield and were returning to their vehicle, the vehicle’s owner approached, yelling expletives and ripping the citation to pieces. — Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Instead of simply letting the girls enjoy the game, Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton confronted them and unleashed a string of expletives. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expletives
  1. curses
  2. obscenities
  3. profanities
  4. epithets
Noun
  • Vieira said the show offers another opportunity for people to discover Rockport beyond the fictional curses portrayed in the series.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But repression isn’t a good plan when generations-long curses run in the bloodline, because Sally’s daughter Kylie (Joey King), now a college student, has gone and fallen in love behind her mother’s back.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of curses
Noun
  • This results in a wild stretch of attempts by Mona to give life to the line, building to sheer insane obscenities responsible for the film’s R rating.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson was not happy, shouting obscenities at the umpire and ripping him for his appearance.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of obscenities
Noun
  • Witnesses on the plane told CBS News New York that Lundeen's behavior -- which included screaming profanities and racial slurs and becoming physically abusive -- was putting other passengers at risk.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Notes on the investigation obtained by the Courant show witnesses who were interviewed said Plessy Cloud spoke only in a respectful tone and that no voices were raised, nor were any profanities heard.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of profanities
Noun
  • The raid drew criticism over separating families, and a group of Idahoans sued, saying officers hurled racial epithets and largely withheld water, food, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hochman detailed a number of prosecutions, including the sentence of one man to a life sentence plus seven years with the possibility of parole for a March 23 attack, during which racial epithets were uttered.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of epithets

Browse Nearby Words

expletive
expletives
explicable
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Cite this Entry

“Expletives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expletives. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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