SWEARING Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

swearing 1 of 2

noun

as in profanity

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swearing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of swear

as in cursing

to use offensive or indecent language no one is allowed to swear in this house

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in vowing

to make a solemn declaration of intent swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in testifying

to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact the sworn statement of the witness was presented as evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 swearing

Noun

His dad held the Bible as Blair posed with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, for a ceremonial swearing-in, a hallmark for new members of Congress. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 His swearing-in, scheduled for January 14, 2024, was delayed for hours amid disputes in Congress over the seating of legislators and the status of Semilla. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 Katseye doesn’t seem to get in as much trouble as K-pop idols have in the past for swearing; a patina of unruliness has endeared the group to its followers. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026 Blanche’s swearing-in Monday took place behind closed doors at the White House, despite similar events previously being open to the press. — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The 48-year-old chose the southwestern city, which has been hit hard by drug violence and attacks from rebel groups, as the site of his swearing-in. — Manuel Rueda, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026 Security became the main challenge of the swearing-in ceremony. — Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 Josiah Peeler was charged with false swearing for allegedly lying to law enforcement. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Even before the swearing-in ceremony, supporters flooded social media with the same partisan trademark fervor of veteran politicians, suggesting that while the faces may be new, political habits remain the same. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

After founding Jala in Florida five years ago, swearing it would not be a cookie-cutter Indian restaurant, Maax has decided to open a location in the KC metro. — Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 Kito showed Becerra a picture of the then-congressman swearing him in as a neighborhood council president more than a decade ago. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 As Sportico detailed last year, McEnroe remembers MSG employees asking Oakley to leave and Oakley responding by swearing at them. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Those reactions may lead you to respond by rolling your eyes, swearing at the steering wheel or flipping off the driver. — Jessica Griffin, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 The premise isn’t all that deep, its a bunch of feral alley cats swearing a lot. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026 Ormund buckles easily enough, dropping to his knee and swearing fealty to Daenerys. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026 Social media videos show drivers aghast at the lines or swearing at empty gas pumps and rising prices. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 The Atlanta Police Department later released bodycam footage to TMZ, which showed Poirier attempting to fight a police officer and swearing at airline employees. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swearing

Noun

Notes on the investigation obtained by the Courant show witnesses who were interviewed said Plessy Cloud spoke only in a respectful tone and that no voices were raised, nor were any profanities heard.

— Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
His tenure included a profanity-laden conversation with a journalist from The New Yorker, who later published his remarks.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of profanity

Verb

Critics are cursing Practical Magic 2, the legasequel of the 1998 cult film.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2026
Video that the teen lobster diver's family shared with ABC Miami affiliate WSVN allegedly shows Simpson swimming away from the third lung and back to the Contender vessel as people on Del Sol's boat began yelling and cursing at him.

— Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of cursing

Verb

House Democratic leadership is vowing repercussions for two centrists who blindsided Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) by joining with Republicans on Tuesday to force a vote on condemning socialism.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026
After vowing to return from his latest calf injury before the end of the season, Juan Soto came back before the end of August, a full month before the New York Mets enter their offseason.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of vowing

Verb

And a psychologist testifying for the prosecution challenged the delusion diagnosis.

— Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
O’Connell is one of the many first responders who spent years advocating and testifying in Congress for better health coverage for first responders.

— Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of testifying

Noun

That might have sounded like blasphemy just half a decade ago, but college football is always evolving, and Swinney is a man stuck in time.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Politicians and preachers denounced them for blasphemy, perversion, and their loud support for civil rights.

— Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of blasphemy

Verb

But did anyone not see Seattle Storm owner Celeste Keaton cussing at kids?

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, a local store director of Nordstrom, Marco Esquivel, was caught berating and cussing at the girls, their mothers and fellow Cunningham supporters.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of cussing

Verb

More advanced clinical trials are needed before this blood test could possibly be used in the clinic, but the results are promising in a disease that is so difficult to manage.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2026
According to Reuters, Tehran instructed the Houthis to escalate, promising them more money, weapons, and expert Iranian advisers.

— Jason D. Greenblatt, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of promising

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“Swearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swearing. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of swearing

noun

verb

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