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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swearing
Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Apparently, all the swearing and drama is par for the course, as far as the golfer is concerned.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
With Tuesday’s appointment, Thomas became the first Asian American police chief in Dakota County and just the second in Minnesota history — a milestone recognized by representatives from the Minnesota Asian Police Officers Association, who attended his swearing-in ceremony.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
That led to swearing and arguments on the ice and became an international headline.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
During his swearing-in ceremony, Christine discussed his own gender identity to make the point that his leadership would differ from his predecessor’s, Rachel Levine, a trans woman.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
In welcoming the group during a swearing-in ceremony, Fils-Aimé made an impassioned appeal for civic engagement in Haiti and insisted on the need for his new cabinet to take resolute action.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
That norm changed somewhat during Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, when transcripts of White House recordings revealed his penchant for swearing.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Warren was bleeding but conscious, propped on an elbow, ordering Sneaky to get the sheep back, swearing when the man tried to move him.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Another research project showed that negative spectator behaviors like swearing or threatening language was observed at 68% of events.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
On a rainy afternoon in an East Village noodle shop, Kate Hudson is swearing me to secrecy.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The incident has sparked outrage in the film community and online over BAFTA and the BBC’s decision not to cut the racial slur and swearing from the initial broadcast, despite the show airing with a two-hour delay.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
Davidson’s Tourette’s causes involuntary tics, and he could be heard swearing at several points during last night’s ceremony.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
Clark's ensconcement is effective immediately, the city said, though a ceremonial swearing-in will occur later this year.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Apparently, all the swearing and drama is par for the course, as far as the golfer is concerned.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
With Tuesday’s appointment, Thomas became the first Asian American police chief in Dakota County and just the second in Minnesota history — a milestone recognized by representatives from the Minnesota Asian Police Officers Association, who attended his swearing-in ceremony.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
That led to swearing and arguments on the ice and became an international headline.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
During his swearing-in ceremony, Christine discussed his own gender identity to make the point that his leadership would differ from his predecessor’s, Rachel Levine, a trans woman.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
In welcoming the group during a swearing-in ceremony, Fils-Aimé made an impassioned appeal for civic engagement in Haiti and insisted on the need for his new cabinet to take resolute action.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
If Rob Manfred were to wake up tomorrow morning and decide to do away with the seventh-inning stretch, untold amounts of swearing and freaking out would ensue, even though the origins of the practice are murky and the exercise itself is largely an empty signifier.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
That norm changed somewhat during Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, when transcripts of White House recordings revealed his penchant for swearing.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Warren was bleeding but conscious, propped on an elbow, ordering Sneaky to get the sheep back, swearing when the man tried to move him.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Another research project showed that negative spectator behaviors like swearing or threatening language was observed at 68% of events.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
On a rainy afternoon in an East Village noodle shop, Kate Hudson is swearing me to secrecy.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The incident has sparked outrage in the film community and online over BAFTA and the BBC’s decision not to cut the racial slur and swearing from the initial broadcast, despite the show airing with a two-hour delay.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
Davidson’s Tourette’s causes involuntary tics, and he could be heard swearing at several points during last night’s ceremony.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swearing
Noun
-
Ball ended up being fined $60,000 for his actions during the game ($35,000 for the foul, $25,000 for postgame profanity on TV) and assessed a flagrant foul.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
-
He was fined $25,000 for using profanity in an on-court postgame interview.—
Steve Reed,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Avalanche fans don’t need to be cursing under their breath about winning the Presidents’ Trophy.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
They were accused of minor infractions, such as cursing, missing a day of work or bringing a personal cellphone into the administration building.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before engaging in more talks, while vowing to commit to disarming the group.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Kim had also supervised two rounds of missile tests from the Choe Hyon last month while vowing to accelerate the nuclear armament of his navy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Athena’s dad, Jacob Strand, is the first witness testifying this morning, followed by more testimony from the case’s lead investigator and video evidence.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Early in the session, the House held hearings on the assault weapons and high-capacity magazines ban, with Annunciation families and students testifying in support.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For creatives, its use was treated like blasphemy.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Interreligious tension exists, with arbitrary detentions of Christians and arrests under the nation’s blasphemy laws.—
Mathew Schmalz,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As members of both teams poured onto the field, Miller stood his ground and started aggressively pointing at and cussing out more Reds, directing them back towards their dugout.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
His endless threats, coupled with his waves of cussing, make Trump sound like a drunk in a bar looking for a fight.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sunday marked only the first chapter, and an early test for a young, promising head coach.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
And in some clinical trials, psilocybin, MDMA and LSD have been found to have promising results in treating mental health conditions.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Players on other teams called him every racial insult.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
To the Heat, relegated to the play-in for a fourth straight season is (or should be) an insult.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swearing. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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