1
as in insults
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
a rowdy group of patrons was kicked out of the theater for shouting slurs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace
your drunken behavior at the wedding has cast a slur on this family
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 slurs
Se Eun Gong, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
According to Ring and his family, other students called the teen names and anti-trans slurs.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
But the slurs and making fun of someone who’s the most important person in my life were surprising.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
This is the third time the cast of Love Island season seven has had a controversy surrounding racial slurs.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
More old Reddit posts surfaced Wednesday, with The Advocate reporting that Platner used homophobic slurs and made anti-LGBTQ+ jokes between 2018 and 2021.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
However, after she was arrested for shooting Owens, Lorincz confessed to using slurs.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Her disdain for their typical adolescent activities–football, cartwheels, hide-and-seek—manifested in several episodes of verbal harassment, racial slurs, and dials to 911.
—Ayana Underwood, Outside, 23 Oct. 2025
The texts, verified by Politico through multiple participants, also show Ingrassia using slurs and disparaging remarks toward Black and Asian people, as well as expressing admiration for controversial far-right figures.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
There have been anti-China rallies in downtown Seoul in recent months, where protesters chanted racist slurs and made unsubstantiated claims of Chinese inference in South Korean politics.
—Se Eun Gong, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
According to Ring and his family, other students called the teen names and anti-trans slurs.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
But the slurs and making fun of someone who’s the most important person in my life were surprising.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
This is the third time the cast of Love Island season seven has had a controversy surrounding racial slurs.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
More old Reddit posts surfaced Wednesday, with The Advocate reporting that Platner used homophobic slurs and made anti-LGBTQ+ jokes between 2018 and 2021.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
However, after she was arrested for shooting Owens, Lorincz confessed to using slurs.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Her disdain for their typical adolescent activities–football, cartwheels, hide-and-seek—manifested in several episodes of verbal harassment, racial slurs, and dials to 911.
—Ayana Underwood, Outside, 23 Oct. 2025
The texts, verified by Politico through multiple participants, also show Ingrassia using slurs and disparaging remarks toward Black and Asian people, as well as expressing admiration for controversial far-right figures.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slurs
Noun
-
On screen, Lawrence and Pattinson hurl nonstop insults at each other in loud bursts of verbal warfare, a striking contrast to the duo’s quieter working relationship.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The race has been no short of dogged, as insults between the candidates on the debate stage have led to archives investigations and defamation lawsuit threats.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stubborn stains, such as makeup, grass, and nail polish, can also benefit from a hot water wash.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Leaks, ceiling stains or granules in gutters may signal damaged or missing asphalt shingles.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
People saw that with their own eyes, and slowly, these stigmas started to go away.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
-
As a source of livelihood, Resh Lakish raised crocus plants for saffron, harvesting their flowers’ stigmas that constitute the spice.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Phillips croons about a mother’s bond with her child as Swinton walks off, her character freshly wrecked by a visit with her son in prison.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tonatiuh croons a few ballads, though Lopez skillfully takes on most of the heavy musical work.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The lights are low and the room hums with stillness.—
Thania Garcia,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, OneCoin still hums along and continues to attract investors.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
On Saturday nights, when the Jewish Sabbath ends, Elia chants the zemirot, the traditional table hymns.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The entire group chants the name of the triumphant Elio and Clone Elio accepts the applause.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
On that track, Drake trolls a female friend’s meltdown over the galactic beat, which some fans believe may reference Kim Kardashian’s relationship with ex-husband Ye (formerly Kanye West).—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slurs. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share