as in curses
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
unleashed a slew of expletives upon losing the tennis match
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Recent Examples of expletives
One of the reporters said Bad Bunny often mumbled through the expletives or cut off the word entirely in the show.
—
James Powel, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
As the match continued, the sides grew irritated with each other, resulting in Kennedy hurling expletives at the Swedish team in defense of himself and both sides argued across the ice.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
The Big 12 fined Colorado $50,000 in September after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a game against the Cougars in Boulder.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
O’Sullivan berated an on-site staff member while using more than a dozen expletives during a 47-second video of the incident.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
In September, Colorado apologized and was fined $50,000 by the Big 12 after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a 24-21 loss to the Cougars in Boulder.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Many carried handwritten signs demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents leave Minnesota immediately, using expletives against ICE that have been plastered all over the Twin Cities for weeks.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Many carried handwritten signs demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave Minnesota immediately, using the expletives against ICE that have been plastered all over the Twin Cities for more than weeks.
—Jack Brook, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
At the Whipple federal building, a large group of federal officers clad in riot gear moved toward protesters, who responded with chants of expletives and boos.
—Natasha Bertrand, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
James Powel, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
As the match continued, the sides grew irritated with each other, resulting in Kennedy hurling expletives at the Swedish team in defense of himself and both sides argued across the ice.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
The Big 12 fined Colorado $50,000 in September after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a game against the Cougars in Boulder.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
O’Sullivan berated an on-site staff member while using more than a dozen expletives during a 47-second video of the incident.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
In September, Colorado apologized and was fined $50,000 by the Big 12 after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a 24-21 loss to the Cougars in Boulder.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Many carried handwritten signs demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents leave Minnesota immediately, using expletives against ICE that have been plastered all over the Twin Cities for weeks.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Many carried handwritten signs demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave Minnesota immediately, using the expletives against ICE that have been plastered all over the Twin Cities for more than weeks.
—Jack Brook, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
At the Whipple federal building, a large group of federal officers clad in riot gear moved toward protesters, who responded with chants of expletives and boos.
—Natasha Bertrand, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expletives
Noun
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The earliest depictions of slavery were already crawling with the terrible proceedings the Gothic tends to depict, from bloody whippings to family curses to the wrathful wraiths of the slain enslaved.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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Gamers will know Brok as the beloved weapons dealer with an unrivaled artistry for creative, foul-mouthed curses.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And where no parent could sit their kids within 15 feet of the Nuggets’ bench without hearing a torrent of Moe obscenities.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
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Cocoa Beach police responded to Hill-Brodigan’s home that night after receiving multiple calls about the party, some of which said minors were seen walking toward the home through other peoples’ yards and yelled obscenities at them.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The trespasser was shouting profanities and throwing water from a plastic bottle, Tahara detailed.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Because Stern's show aired on public radio at the time, the conversation may have addressed using profanities on-air.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On that day, the mob hurled racist epithets, smoke bombs, and fists at him.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
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When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expletives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expletives. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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