profanity
noun
pro·fan·i·ty
prō-ˈfa-nə-tē 
prə-
plural profanities
1
a
: the quality or state of being profane
b
: the use of profane language
2
a
: profane language
b
: an utterance of profane language
Synonyms
Examples of profanity in a Sentence
The comic uses too much profanity.
My mom will not tolerate profanity.
I have never heard my father utter a single profanity.
Recent Examples on the Web
Not because profanities were hurled in my direction.
—
Jeffrey Marks, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2024
Five houses on two near west side blocks would become a historic district under a proposal endorsed by city officials − after a process that included profanity and a death wish targeting a supporter.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
When the same polling firm asked a similar question in 2022 on whether Americans were bothered hearing profanity in public just 49% said a lot or some.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Jane Mayer of The New Yorker reported that Ms. Clanton had sent text messages to another Turning Point employee, including the racist one with profanity.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
This is an ability known as vocal learning, and is perhaps most notably exhibited when a parrot mimics a person’s speech (or profanity).
—Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
There’s less profanity, said history teacher Michael Melendez.
—Gail Cornwall, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The cast got to yell the most surreal, mysterious profanities at each other, such as ‘’country whores’’, but as opposed to what ?
—Maëlle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Contains pervasive violence, profanity and some nudity.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Jeffrey Marks, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2024
Five houses on two near west side blocks would become a historic district under a proposal endorsed by city officials − after a process that included profanity and a death wish targeting a supporter.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
When the same polling firm asked a similar question in 2022 on whether Americans were bothered hearing profanity in public just 49% said a lot or some.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Jane Mayer of The New Yorker reported that Ms. Clanton had sent text messages to another Turning Point employee, including the racist one with profanity.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
This is an ability known as vocal learning, and is perhaps most notably exhibited when a parrot mimics a person’s speech (or profanity).
—Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
There’s less profanity, said history teacher Michael Melendez.
—Gail Cornwall, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The cast got to yell the most surreal, mysterious profanities at each other, such as ‘’country whores’’, but as opposed to what ?
—Maëlle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Contains pervasive violence, profanity and some nudity.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'profanity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near profanity
Cite this Entry
“Profanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profanity. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
profanity
noun
pro·fan·i·ty
prō-ˈfan-ət-ē
prə-
plural profanities
1
: the quality or state of being profane
2
: profane language
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