as in curses
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
a rap song that is filled with profanities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of profanities
Onlookers immediately rose up in anger and outrage, screaming at the agents and shouting profanities.
—
Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Protesters and police clash Police at one point threw devices releasing smoke to break up the crowd, which carried signs and shouted profanities at them.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
Not being in the top 10 among Pro Bowl vote-getters — fans, players and coaches — is a joke worthy of Richard Pryor, complete with the profanities.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2025
Oscar Solarzano, a 33-year-old Honduran man who is in the country illegally and banned from Charlotte’s public transit, was being disruptive and using profanities while riding the Blue Line, according to the letter.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
There’s a Sondheimian rhythm to its profanities, and its exorbitantly long music montages swell with unguarded feeling.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
More people in tactical police vests get inside the vehicle, as an angry crowd forms around it, yelling profanities.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
According to a 2020 study in the International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, the number of profanities in songs on the Billboard Top 100 charts rose from less than 200 per year in 2009 to more than 700 per year in 2018.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
The Ada County Highway District said in a news release that in addition to profanities and inappropriate gestures, road-work crews have been subject to more dangerous driving behavior, including aggressive actions that have led to more police response — and even to criminal charges.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2025
Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Protesters and police clash Police at one point threw devices releasing smoke to break up the crowd, which carried signs and shouted profanities at them.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
Not being in the top 10 among Pro Bowl vote-getters — fans, players and coaches — is a joke worthy of Richard Pryor, complete with the profanities.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2025
Oscar Solarzano, a 33-year-old Honduran man who is in the country illegally and banned from Charlotte’s public transit, was being disruptive and using profanities while riding the Blue Line, according to the letter.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
There’s a Sondheimian rhythm to its profanities, and its exorbitantly long music montages swell with unguarded feeling.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
More people in tactical police vests get inside the vehicle, as an angry crowd forms around it, yelling profanities.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
According to a 2020 study in the International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, the number of profanities in songs on the Billboard Top 100 charts rose from less than 200 per year in 2009 to more than 700 per year in 2018.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
The Ada County Highway District said in a news release that in addition to profanities and inappropriate gestures, road-work crews have been subject to more dangerous driving behavior, including aggressive actions that have led to more police response — and even to criminal charges.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanities
Noun
-
In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
-
And as relief from one of the greatest curses imaginable – chronic pain – the neuro-key may offer pain modulation without the expense, side effects, and addiction risk of opioids and systemic drugs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Officers outfitted for combat commingle with Americans screaming obscenities and taunting them.—
Nick Miroff,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The hate group came to the city to wave swastika flags, scream obscenities and generally harass people downtown in July 2024.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters in Minnesota swarmed the vehicle of conservative influencer Nick Sortor on Sunday, shouting at him and yelling expletives.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The whole issue of award show expletives came to the Supreme Court twice, the last time in 2012, when the justices struck down fines on Fox Television Stations over expletives uttered by Cher and Nicole Richie during the Billboard Music Awards, as well as nudity that aired on ABC’s NYPD Blue.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Google plans to expand to other languages and countries in the coming months.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Profanities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profanities. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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