as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
used vulgarisms that embarrassed his family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vulgarism
As the Oxford English Dictionary notes, the expression not hardly is considered a vulgarism.
—
Nr Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2020
The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.
—Time, 11 June 2019
Trump himself has deployed vulgarisms for the female anatomy, plus T-shirts calling Democrat Hillary Clinton the same word were regularly spotted at Trump rallies during the 2016 campaign.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 1 June 2018
As her unwillingness to come right out and say a vulgarism suggests, Mrs. Bush was in many ways a throwback.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2018
Nr Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2020
The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms.
—Time, 11 June 2019
Trump himself has deployed vulgarisms for the female anatomy, plus T-shirts calling Democrat Hillary Clinton the same word were regularly spotted at Trump rallies during the 2016 campaign.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 1 June 2018
As her unwillingness to come right out and say a vulgarism suggests, Mrs. Bush was in many ways a throwback.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgarism
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Photosynthesis was such a profound development; so were eukaryotes, nervous systems and language.—
Philip Ball,
Wired News,
8 June 2025
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
The word was forbidden in their household and treated like a swear.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The frequent Trump epithet losers would be a suitably pejorative modern equivalent.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
-
The event was held by the California Federation of Labor Unions and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, so there was ample praise for California workers and plenty of epithets hurled at President Trump.—
Phil Willon,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The two met in first grade at their elementary school in North Carolina, where they were both placed in detention for writing profanity on their tests.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
6 June 2025
-
The alleged profanity is believed to have been directed at Jewell Loyd, who joined the Aces during the 2025 offseason after 10 seasons with Seattle, the source said.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vulgarism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgarism. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share