as in curses
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
a rap song that is filled with profanities
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Recent Examples of profanities
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
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
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanities
Noun
-
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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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
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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
Noun
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The jobs in question include teachers of foreign languages, such as French, Mandarin and Spanish, elementary physical education, social studies, English and language arts.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
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Like many young women of her generation, Lady Anne was educated at home by a governess and reportedly excelled at music and languages.—
Stephanie Bridger-Linning,
Vanity Fair,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Profanities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profanities. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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