as in profanity
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1
as in cursing
to use offensive or indecent language
no one is allowed to swear in this house
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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
3
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
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Recent Examples of swearing
Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
But unlike at previous swearing in ceremonies there weren't any members of the public.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
Artiles, a former member of the Florida House and Senate, was convicted last year of making excessive contributions, conspiracy to make excessive contributions and false swearing to an oath.
—Jim Saunders, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Sixty-two years after that somber swearing-in, the central figures who were on board Air Force One have passed away, among them Johnson, his wife, Lady Bird, Jackie Kennedy and Hughes.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Longest swearing-in delays Special election winners don’t always get sworn in right away.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
In the backdrop, the swearing-in of Randrianirina as Madagascar’s new president on October 15, having forced former President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country, had had a mixed response at home and more widely across the region.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Johnson has argued that she won’t be sworn in until the House is called back to Washington for a traditional swearing-in ceremony.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 18 Oct. 2025
Looming over Grijalva’s swearing-in is her support for a measure that would require a vote to release the Epstein investigative files.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
How To Travel Instead Breaking up with the social-media-first mindset doesn’t mean swearing off your phone entirely.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
During the post-fight interviews, a frustrated Aspinall had lashed out inside the Octagon after the stoppage, swearing at the crowd for jeering him.
—Antonio Losada, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Detroit Tigers radio announcer Dan Dickerson has apologized after swearing on a hot mic during a commercial break, expressing his frustration after Detroit’s 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the American League Division Series.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
On her first-ever boat, she was berated by a misogynistic captain to the point of swearing back at him and walking off.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025
El-Sayed and McMorrow are also swearing off corporate PAC money, though McMorrow took some in prior races.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Politicians in our highest offices concur despite swearing an oath to protect the Constitution.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher went on one of his bad-boy tirades during a performance at the 1996 show by swearing, wandering the stage and making lewd gestures during his brother Noel's guitar solo.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
Hines has been present at her husband's confirmation hearings and his swearing in, and appeared at the president's inauguration in January.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
But unlike at previous swearing in ceremonies there weren't any members of the public.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
Artiles, a former member of the Florida House and Senate, was convicted last year of making excessive contributions, conspiracy to make excessive contributions and false swearing to an oath.
—Jim Saunders, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Sixty-two years after that somber swearing-in, the central figures who were on board Air Force One have passed away, among them Johnson, his wife, Lady Bird, Jackie Kennedy and Hughes.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Longest swearing-in delays Special election winners don’t always get sworn in right away.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
In the backdrop, the swearing-in of Randrianirina as Madagascar’s new president on October 15, having forced former President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country, had had a mixed response at home and more widely across the region.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Johnson has argued that she won’t be sworn in until the House is called back to Washington for a traditional swearing-in ceremony.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 18 Oct. 2025
Looming over Grijalva’s swearing-in is her support for a measure that would require a vote to release the Epstein investigative files.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
During an hours-long standoff, Mateen dialed 911 and a local news station, swearing allegiance to ISIS in both calls.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
How To Travel Instead Breaking up with the social-media-first mindset doesn’t mean swearing off your phone entirely.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
During the post-fight interviews, a frustrated Aspinall had lashed out inside the Octagon after the stoppage, swearing at the crowd for jeering him.
—Antonio Losada, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Detroit Tigers radio announcer Dan Dickerson has apologized after swearing on a hot mic during a commercial break, expressing his frustration after Detroit’s 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the American League Division Series.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
On her first-ever boat, she was berated by a misogynistic captain to the point of swearing back at him and walking off.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025
El-Sayed and McMorrow are also swearing off corporate PAC money, though McMorrow took some in prior races.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Politicians in our highest offices concur despite swearing an oath to protect the Constitution.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher went on one of his bad-boy tirades during a performance at the 1996 show by swearing, wandering the stage and making lewd gestures during his brother Noel's guitar solo.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swearing
Noun
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As the speeches began, chaos consumed the day as air horns were blasted, pages from pornographic magazines thrown down from the balconies and white mice released on to the floor, before the ‘nun’ started dancing up and down the aisles shouting comic profanity.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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Video from the scene shows an agent wrestling a suspect to the ground and striking him multiple times as bystanders shouted profanity and tried to intervene, with one person attempting to pull an agent away.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Then Sweet William came on the line cursing and threatening in a low, creepy voice.—
Robbie Robertson,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Porter was seen as the second strongest Democrat, but has recently faced backlash over a viral video showing her berating and cursing at a staffer, and another clip of her angrily leaving an interview when pressed by a journalist.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Both candidates have bemoaned the state's high cost of living and surging energy prices, with Ciattarelli vowing to lower New Jersey's high property taxes and Sherrill promising to freeze electricity bills.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Advertisement Mamdani’s political success is largely credited to a media-savvy campaign that centered affordability in one of the world’s most expensive cities, with Mamdani vowing to levy New York’s ultra-rich to pay for childcare, transportation, and even grocery stores.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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PAs testifying in support of the bill also argued the changes would give them parity with nurse practitioners, keeping them competitive in the workforce.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Starting April 1, 1807, Black people in Ohio were barred from testifying in any case, civil or criminal, in which one of the parties was white.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Another of Mirk’s sermons tells a lurid story about the Virgin appearing to a judge known for his blasphemy.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Nov. 2025
-
More recently, Netflix’s film Mary, about the life of the mother of Jesus Christ, sparked debate among viewers when it was released in 2024, and the upcoming horror film The Carpenter’s Son about Jesus Christ was described as blasphemy online.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Many would consider cussing those law enforcement officers an act of rebellious patriotism.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Both candidates have bemoaned the state's high cost of living and surging energy prices, with Ciattarelli vowing to lower New Jersey's high property taxes and Sherrill promising to freeze electricity bills.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Speaking to supporters gathered at Brooklyn Paramount theater, Mamdani celebrated the success of his ambitious, unapologetic campaign, promising a government not just of hope and idealism but one that will deliver both compassion and competence.—
TIME Video,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Weston said stripping Andrew of the medal would be an insult to those who have served in the British armed forces.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
In popular discourse, the word has taken on a life of its own, as an insult deployed without clear reference to any theory of psychology.—
David Merritt Johns,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swearing. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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