turd
Americannoun
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a piece of excrement.
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a mean, contemptible person.
noun
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a lump of dung; piece of excrement
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an unpleasant or contemptible person or thing
Usage
This word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use
Etymology
Origin of turd
before 1000; Middle English; Old English tord
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.
"It's still very early days but, quoting Toto, it doesn't look like it's a turd, which is a bonus," Russell said.
From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026
“Manson was the turd in the punch bowl,” Diltz said cheerily.
From New York Times • Nov. 14, 2023
When professors aren’t able to distinguish between a student and an A.I., or editors put spit polish on a GPT-generated turd rather than discarding it altogether, it shows that the discrimination process is badly broken.
From Slate • Jan. 31, 2023
"And I had to take that turd and turn it into a diamond. And that's what I think we did."
From Salon • Aug. 20, 2021
I scrambled for a plunger and used the handle to break the turd into manageable pieces, all the while thinking that it wasn't fair, that this was technically not my job.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
