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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of profanity
He was fined $25,000 for using profanity in an on-court postgame interview.
—
Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
At one point, a man appears to emerge from the home and yell profanities in Spanish in the direction of the dump truck.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
His use of profanities pepper his Truth Social messages.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
This editorial repeats profanity.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
At one point, a man appears to emerge from the home and yell profanities in Spanish in the direction of the dump truck.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
His use of profanities pepper his Truth Social messages.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
This editorial repeats profanity.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanity
Noun
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As words have incantatory power to shift elements of fate, as well as matters of the heart, this project calls forward questions around an alleged family curse from Nagasaki and the writing process as its own counter-spell.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Press conferences can be a blessing and a curse for football managers.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
In addition, prosecutors say swastikas, antisemitic slogans and vulgarity were spray-painted on pillars underneath M-53 and Canal, a brick wall near a business and an electrical box at a second business.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
His vulgarity, insults and threats do not make America great.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong apologized for using vulgar language in a heated exchange with a fan during Sunday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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In 1996, Fuhrman pleaded no contest to perjury for falsely denying his use of racist language.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
There are no great surprises from here on out, though the sheer, lusty grossness of the fallout is occasionally startling.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The event finds more than 20,000 people participating in an annual bar crawl throughout the city while dressed in their best holiday attire, tackiest Santa Claus costumes, and ugliest Christmas swears.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Kennedy could be heard hurling swears at the Swedish team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The obscenity is often to be found not on the page, but in the wider world, and in part Scranton has called a share of this outrage down upon himself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
Or one that doesn’t deal primarily with (obscenity deleted) in a dance club or how much someone likes big rear ends.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
One of the best bigs in [expletive] basketball history flops.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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Videos of her confronting the woman and yelling expletives at gym staffers about the gymgoer’s genitalia went viral, landing her interviews with TMZ, Fox News and conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 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 20 May. 2026.
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