slur

[ slur ]

/ slɜr /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: slur / slurred / slurring on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), slurred, slur·ring.

to pass over lightly or without due mention or consideration (often followed by over): The report slurred over her contribution to the enterprise.

to pronounce (a syllable, word, etc.) indistinctly by combining, reducing, or omitting sounds, as in hurried or careless utterance.

to cast aspersions on; calumniate; disparage; depreciate: The candidate was viciously slurred by his opponent.

Music.

to sing to a single syllable or play without a break (two or more tones of different pitch).
to mark with a slur.

Chiefly British Dialect. to smirch, sully, or stain.

verb (used without object), slurred, slur·ring.

to read, speak, or sing hurriedly and carelessly.

noun

a slurred utterance or sound.

a disparaging remark or a slight: quick to take offense at a slur; an ethnic slur against people of Irish descent.

a blot or stain, as upon reputation: a slur on his good name.

Music.

the combination of two or more tones of different pitch, sung to a single syllable or played without a break.
a curved mark indicating this.

Printing. a spot that is blurred or unclear as a result of paper, plate, or blanket slippage.

OTHER WORDS FOR slur

1 slight, disregard, gloss.

3 slander, asperse.

8 innuendo, insult, affront.

9 stigma, disgrace.

See synonyms for slur on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR slur

8 compliment.

See antonyms for slur on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of slur

First recorded in 1595–1605; of multiple origins; in the sense “pass over without due consideration,” compare Low German slurren “to shuffle,” Dutch sleuren “to trail, drag”; in the sense “blot or stain,” compare Middle Dutch slore (Dutch sloor ) “sluttish woman”

OTHER WORDS FROM slur

un·slurred, adjective

Words nearby slur

slumpflation, slump test, slung, slung shot, slunk, slur, slurb, slurp, slurry, slurve, slush

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use slur in a sentence

Elections Director Richard Barron has said that in the run-up to Election Day, workers were harassed by phone and on social media, where people repeatedly hurled racial slurs at them.
Democrats win control of U.S. Senate as Ossoff defeats Perdue|John Wagner, Brittany Shammas, Derek Hawkins, Cleve Wootson, Hannah Knowles|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
In the run-up to Election Day, Barron said, workers have also been harassed by phone and on social media, where people have repeatedly hurled racial slurs at them.
Pair of Georgia runoff races are razor close with U.S. Senate control at stake|Felicia Sonmez, Colby Itkowitz, John Wagner, Paulina Firozi, Amy B Wang|January 6, 2021|Washington Post
Allegations included caste-based slurs and jokes, bullying, discriminatory hiring practices, bias in peer reviews, and sexual harassment, said executive director Thenmozhi Soundararajan.
India’s engineers have thrived in Silicon Valley. So has its caste system.|Nitasha Tiku|October 28, 2020|Washington Post
Condemning the commercial use of an obvious racial slur is the lowest-hanging fruit.
Hundreds Of Schools Are Still Using Native Americans As Team Mascots|Hope Allchin|October 12, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

He asked me whether it offended me that his chain was named what some might consider an ethnic slur.
To Live & Die Herman Cain|Eugene Robinson|October 1, 2020|Ozy
Indeed, a common racial slur in Dutch is, precisely, roetmop, which means soot mop.
Dutch Try to Save Santa’s Slave|Nadette De Visser|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A sexual slur toward a man is considered just a personal insult.
Men Are Harassed More Than Women Online|Cathy Young|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One can only imagine the reaction had a GOP operative made the exact same slur against the spouse of a Democratic candidate.
In Kentucky, Elaine Chao Endures Racist Attacks From Liberals|Ron Christie|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One slur is not good, while another is fine because the league has not lost any money in a consumer boycott of the name.
Mark Cuban Warns That Basketball Players Could Get the Sterling Treatment Next|Evan Weiner|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
During a Patroons playoff game, Richardson had screamed profanities and a gay slur at hecklers.
Mark Cuban Warns That Basketball Players Could Get the Sterling Treatment Next|Evan Weiner|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps I shall slur over the word "romantic" in the letter, but not without consulting you.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
Joyce winced at what seemed to her a direct slur upon her father's memory, but knew it was just.
Joyce's Investments|Fannie E. Newberry
In one case, where Mark has a slur on physicians, Luke eliminates it.
Old-Time Makers of Medicine|James J. Walsh
The sneer in his voice and his slur on her father brought a bright flush of anger to Tessibel's face.
Tess of the Storm Country|Grace Miller White
But the decision of the Court cast a slur on his name, and on that of his second wife.
The Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Volume I (of 2)|Florence A. Thomas Marshall

British Dictionary definitions for slur

slur

/ (slɜː) /

verb slurs, slurring or slurred (mainly tr)

(often foll by over) to treat superficially, hastily, or without due deliberation; gloss

(also intr) to pronounce or utter (words, etc) indistinctly

to speak disparagingly of or cast aspersions on

music to execute (a melodic interval of two or more notes) smoothly, as in legato performance

(also intr) to blur or smear

archaic to stain or smear; sully

noun

an indistinct sound or utterance

a slighting remark; aspersion

a stain or disgrace, as upon one's reputation; stigma

music

a performance or execution of a melodic interval of two or more notes in a part
the curved line (⌢ or ⌣) indicating this

a blur or smear

Word Origin for slur

C15: probably from Middle Low German; compare Middle Low German slūren to drag, trail, Middle Dutch sloren, Dutch sleuren

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

slur

OTHER WORDS FOR slur

OPPOSITES FOR slur

Origin of slur

OTHER WORDS FROM slur

Words nearby slur

Words related to slur

How to use slur in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slur

Word Origin for slur