1
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
a rap song that is filled with profanities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of profanity
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
Last month, Kelly captured on camera one of his profanity-laden confrontations with Hegseth.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profanity
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
Last month, Kelly captured on camera one of his profanity-laden confrontations with Hegseth.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanity
Noun
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In the preview, it was mentioned that Leon has something called the Umbrella curse.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In the 2002 comedy, McAdams plays a catty teen who's turned into, yep, Saturday Night Live alum Schneider, via a curse.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Hungerstone is a delicious tribute to the inherent horrors of womanhood and the desperate and exquisite vulgarity of desire.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
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The production is known for its humor as much as its vulgarity, and on Thursday night, the Out Front Theatre Company is raising the curtain on the off-Broadway production.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Each class is a one- hour adventure of hearing and speaking another language.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Its sequel Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled for theatrical release March 19, 2026, in five languages — Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam — expanding significantly beyond the original's Hindi-only strategy.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
He is charged with open and lewd grossness.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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In fact, plenty of other things in your home surpass the toilet in terms of grossness.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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If accumulation is the issue, Giaquinto swears by the five-second and five-year rules.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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In both The Wire and 25th Hour, Whitlock uttered his catchphrase swear.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In one entry, the ghost of Lenny Bruce arrives, spelling out obscenities.—
Shannon Taggart,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
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The crowd, rapidly swelling into the hundreds, screamed insults and obscenities at the agents, some of whom shouted back mockingly.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 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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You guys write that [expletive].—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Profanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profanity. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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