Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

curse word

American  

noun

  • curse words
    plural
  1. a profane or obscene word, especially as used in anger or for emphasis; curse.

    Synonyms:
    swear word, profanity, obscenity, oath, cussword, cuss
  2. any term conceived of as offensive.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of curse word

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

For now, though, EES, which stands for entry/exit system, has become the curse word of the summer for some Europe-bound U.S. travelers.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 12, 2026

I’ve covered Nancy Pelosi for more than three decades and never once heard her utter a curse word, in public or private.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 8, 2025

Just one offensive or curse word can lead to a parental advisory label, so what’s defined as explicit can be subjective.

From Seattle Times Feb. 3, 2023

But having solved the mystery of her mother, Jo chooses to return to her responsibilities in the terrestrial, persecutory world where magic is a curse word.

From New York Times Aug. 9, 2022

It was much worse than any curse word, they told us.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training