1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

four-letter word

noun

Definition of four-letter wordnext
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression clapped her hands over the toddler's ears so he wouldn't hear the four-letter word

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 four-letter word Never one to censor herself, Madonna's latest fashion statement can be summarized with a four-letter word. — Glenn Garner, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2023 What’s a four-letter word for funny, sweet, silly, huggable, wonderful, and mine? — Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 2 Mar. 2023 In an audio excerpt, an air traffic controller can be heard uttering a four-letter word. — Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2023 Mater Dei Catholic tennis coach Jose Oropeza says there is a four-letter word that is unacceptable on his team. — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2022 See All Example Sentences for four-letter word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for four-letter word
  1. curse
  2. dirty word
  3. language
  4. swear
Noun
  • The anime’s first part closed with the disturbances tied to the body-swap curse largely resolved, and with Reirin and Keigetsu having grown closer after coming to understand each other through the experience.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • For readers who are familiar with the literary curse of Plaschke in his column over the years, this prediction is not that.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of curse
Noun
  • Compromise is now a dirty word, and Iran’s price for ending the conflict with the Americans has gone up.
    — Daniel DePetris, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • NPAs are hungry to elect centrists who believe that compromise is not a dirty word.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirty word
Noun
  • Whole lives are neatly bound in tidy language, conveyed within the confines of a page or two.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • So early this year, Henderson's doctors, evaluating his tumor's deep genetic language, turned to a drug made by Merck and AstraZeneca called Lynparza.
    — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of language
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

Browse Nearby Words

four-in-hands
four-letter word
four-letter words
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Four-letter word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/four-letter%20word. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All