Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

swear word

American  
[swair wurd] / ˈswɛər ˌwɜrd /
Or swearword

noun

  1. a word used in swearing or cursing; a profane or obscene word.

    Synonyms:
    swear, profanity, obscenity, oath, cussword, cuss, curse word, curse

Etymology

Origin of swear word

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85


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:

“I can’t really say it because there’s a swear word in it,” Quinton Byfield said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2024

After this conflict, Musgrave predicts Ukrainians will add a new swear word to their vocabulary: “Putin.”

From Washington Post ● Mar. 4, 2022

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Joseph Schuster, said last week that for him the word “Jew” is neither a swear word nor discriminatory.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2022

Recently tiny Bitche made international headlines after Facebook mistook the city’s name for a swear word and deleted the town’s Facebook page.

From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2021

But the words caught on her tongue like a swear word.

From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com