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
Sunday, the robber came up to a 23-year-old passenger on the train at the North/Clybourn station on the Near North Side, and yelled profanities at the passenger before punching him and taking his personal property, police said.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Shrewdly, Jones opens the film with Davidson, as portrayed by Aramayo, attending a reception, where the late Queen Elizabeth II presents him with an honor, and the ceremony is accompanied by the sound of profanities issued from Davidson’s mouth.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
At 21 seconds, the person filming the video drives past the confrontation, and the camera swings to the other side of the street as someone in the car yells profanities.
—Kif Leswing,terri Cullen, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
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
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Shrewdly, Jones opens the film with Davidson, as portrayed by Aramayo, attending a reception, where the late Queen Elizabeth II presents him with an honor, and the ceremony is accompanied by the sound of profanities issued from Davidson’s mouth.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
At 21 seconds, the person filming the video drives past the confrontation, and the camera swings to the other side of the street as someone in the car yells profanities.
—Kif Leswing,terri Cullen, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanities
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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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
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In one entry, the ghost of Lenny Bruce arrives, spelling out obscenities.—
Shannon Taggart,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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While some of the social media videos posted by Africans are in English and French, many are in languages like Igbo, Swahili and Twi, to appeal directly to audiences in target countries.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Dozens of rooms have wooden booths lined with foam for soundproofing, scripts written in multiple languages, lists of names and phone numbers, computer monitors and empty brackets for hard drives.—
Sakchai Lalit,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Profanities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profanities. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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