1
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
a rap song that is filled with profanities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in vulgarity
the quality or state of being obscene
once notorious for its profanity, that 1950s best seller will strike today's readers as lamentably tame
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of profanity
After right-hander Walker Buehler reacted to a bad call by home plate umpire Mark Estabrook by leaving the mound and yelling profanities, Cora came out to argue on behalf of his pitcher.
—
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
The board voted to sustain the profanity finding but determined there was not enough evidence to prove or disprove the other allegations.
—Kelly Davis, Mercury News, 19 May 2025
Unlike June’s steady hand, Moira gets to drop an F-bomb — twice — which at first shocks Lydia given the rules against profanity in the society.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was fined $50,000 Wednesday by the NBA for using profanity during his postgame news conference on Tuesday.
—James Jackson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
The board voted to sustain the profanity finding but determined there was not enough evidence to prove or disprove the other allegations.
—Kelly Davis, Mercury News, 19 May 2025
Unlike June’s steady hand, Moira gets to drop an F-bomb — twice — which at first shocks Lydia given the rules against profanity in the society.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was fined $50,000 Wednesday by the NBA for using profanity during his postgame news conference on Tuesday.
—James Jackson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profanity
Noun
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The sheer volume of deals promoted by Amazon during sales like Prime Day is a blessing and a curse.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
12 June 2025
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No conference in major college football can match the Big 12 for parity, which is both a blessing and curse.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
Noun
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During the presentation by PMM Chesterton, which wants to redevelop the golf course, Kowalski used a vulgarity to describe how the houses would be too close to each other.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2025
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The fans in Section 204, directly beyond where a right fielder stands, eschewed artistry for straight-up vulgarity.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
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The government's 2011 population census found that a little more than 10% of Indians fluently speak the language.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
8 June 2025
-
Photosynthesis was such a profound development; so were eukaryotes, nervous systems and language.—
Philip Ball,
Wired News,
8 June 2025
Noun
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Bonus: For every 100ml bottle sold, Omorovicza donates 5% to Water.org, supporting global access to safe water. Jones Road Miracle Balm, $40 Women over 50 swear by this award-winning, Bobbi Brown-founded brand for its nourishing and hydrating qualities.—
Kristen Philipkoski,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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The word was forbidden in their household and treated like a swear.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One video posted online shows the drones take off from a truck bed parked along a highway as the Russian narrator let obscenities fly.—
Charles Maynes,
NPR,
2 June 2025
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But in the end, all the gleeful obscenity took a backseat to the story’s true subject: the terrifying process of growing up.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
24 May 2025
Noun
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Huerta arrived at a metal gate near the workplace in the late morning on Friday, according to a criminal complaint, which alleged Huerta shouted expletives and banged on the gate in an effort to intimidate federal agents.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 June 2025
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Even the name, Mother, plays off the idea of duality—a nurturing figure, or the sting of an expletive.—
Caroline Griswold,
Vogue,
13 May 2025
Noun
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And, when the alarm wails hours before dawn, human cusses of angry protest join the chorus of budget appliances failing before their time.—
Virginia Konchan,
The New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2024
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My grandmother extended a ladder up into this tough old cuss of a tree and climbed up, at some risk, to pick the bulging fruit.—
Jim Meddleton,
The Christian Science Monitor,
1 May 2024
Noun
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As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2020
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The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.—
Time,
Time,
11 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Profanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profanity. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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