1
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
a rap song that is filled with profanities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in vulgarity
the quality or state of being obscene
once notorious for its profanity, that 1950s best seller will strike today's readers as lamentably tame
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 profanity
Lemon’s video contains profanity and a racial slur.
—
Angel Saunders, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Drill sergeants now minimize their use of profanity, insults and degrading remarks and strive to become support figures for trainees.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
In some corners, stripping the songs of profanities and toning down references doesn’t make adult songs kid appropriate.
—Sopan Deb, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Animal Noises The original poster (OP) explained that the group of seven young diners was rowdy, using excessive profanity and making animal noises while ordering the most expensive entrees and desserts.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Angel Saunders, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Drill sergeants now minimize their use of profanity, insults and degrading remarks and strive to become support figures for trainees.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
In some corners, stripping the songs of profanities and toning down references doesn’t make adult songs kid appropriate.
—Sopan Deb, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Animal Noises The original poster (OP) explained that the group of seven young diners was rowdy, using excessive profanity and making animal noises while ordering the most expensive entrees and desserts.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanity
Noun
-
As the phenomena intensify, Skye realizes she may have been marked by the same curse that claimed so many lives before her.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Episode 5 - Le Curse of Leclerc: Charles Leclerc breaks the Monaco curse in this episode by winning the Grand Prix and explaining the emotional importance of the feat.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Without condoning the vulgarity of Team Trump, the shock may be useful.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Even those Republicans who are wary of his volatile leadership style, penchant for vulgarity and willingness to violate conservative orthodoxies are generally reluctant to air those criticisms publicly.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
21 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
But, Offit said, Makary’s language has damaged public trust in health institutions, including the one he’s been picked to lead.—
Matthew Perrone,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Republican lawmakers, however, are refusing to include any such language in the funding bill.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Could a nice good swear on the pitch to express one’s anger stop a player from lashing out physically, channelling their anger through their vocal cords rather than their fists?—
Nick Miller,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The station asked the band not to include the swears.—
Kris Holt,
Forbes,
2 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The reason the rabbit vibrator is called this was to get around obscenity laws in Japan when the products were exported.—
Amanda Chatel,
Glamour,
19 Feb. 2025
-
City Manager Dan Dugger’s recent behavior — walking down from the chambers to confront a civilian in a threatening manner, yelling obscenities, and ultimately being restrained by law enforcement — is not just a single lapse in judgment.—
Dominick Vargas,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The next thing Harrelson saw was a gaggle of roadies screaming expletives and running toward him.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Both Grisham and Mata can be heard shouting expletives at officers in video of the dispute.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
And, when the alarm wails hours before dawn, human cusses of angry protest join the chorus of budget appliances failing before their time.—
Virginia Konchan,
The New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2024
-
My grandmother extended a ladder up into this tough old cuss of a tree and climbed up, at some risk, to pick the bulging fruit.—
Jim Meddleton,
The Christian Science Monitor,
1 May 2024
Noun
-
As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
-
The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Profanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profanity. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share