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 Moments after McBride complained to Seeman about the play, sideline cameras showed Seeman mouthing inaudible words, appearing to be expletives, to McBride, who seemed surprised by Seeman’s conduct. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2026 Even Bradley makes an appearance this season, storming out of a conversation in a cloud of expletives in the trailer. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026 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
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
  • 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
  • Shawn Seaman on Monday told KDKA about some of the incidents that involve young people entering local businesses, yelling obscenities and racial slurs and then running out.
    — Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 5 Oct. 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 by striking and beating -- was putting other passengers at risk.
    — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Shrieking profanities, blocking traffic, attacking police and wreaking havoc are not arguments, but for many activists, that’s beside the point.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2026.

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