expletive
95
8.2
- noun
- /ˈɛksplɪtɪv/
- Offensive
- My initial impulse was to offer up some choice expletives about your sadly lacking powers of observation.
- use expletives
Examples
-
Well, she used expletives against some of the other students, and she taught them what they meant, yeah.
-
With a string of expletives, he rushed from the room and took the stairs two at a time.
Fiction book (1999) -
Though I can see your audience here might have been better served without the expletive.
-
Larry was about to offer up another expletive, but Otto stopped him with a raised hand.
Fiction book (1995) -
I remember someone among the boys uttering an expletive, which I heard for the first time.
Fiction book (1993) -
Everyone who worked in the building knew about his expletive-rich vocabulary.
Fiction book (2000) -
Our bunch was splitting up, and I heard no end of expletives right behind me.
Blog text (3) -
And I would greatly appreciate if you would refrain from using expletives.
-
When he hit his thumb with a hammer, he let out a loud expletive that shocked everyone in the room.
-
The comedian's routine was filled with expletives that had the audience laughing and gasping in surprise.
Synonyms
638
9.9
A rude word said to show anger or insult someone
169
9.9
A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or shocked
137
7.4
A short mild word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or strong feeling
100
9.9
Shows strong anger or annoyance in a rude way
47
9.9
Adds strong anger or surprise to what you say
47
6.0
Words that are rude and upset people, often about religion
43
9.9
A very rude phrase people say to show strong anger or annoyance
35
3.9
A bad word said in anger
26
7.1
A word people think is rude or not polite
23
9.9
A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked
21
9.9
People say a strong angry word when they feel very annoyed
20
9.9
A polite way to talk about the very rude word 'fuck' without saying it
16
9.9
To make what you say sound stronger, like a mild swear
11
5.8
A rude word people say to show strong anger or surprise
7
9.9
An old-fashioned shout showing surprise, anger, or strong feeling
7
9.9
An old word people say to show surprise or shock
5
9.3
A sound people make to show disgust or annoyance
5
9.9
To say when you feel angry, annoyed, or upset
4
8.6
A rude word people say when they are angry
4
3.4
A loud cry that shows sudden strong feeling like surprise or pain
3
9.9
A short angry or surprised word people say when something goes wrong
3
9.9
A rude strong word said to show anger or surprise
2
9.9
A short sound showing disgust at something gross
2
9.9
A strong French bad word people say to show anger or surprise
2
6.1
A rude word said to show strong anger or surprise
2
9.9
An exclamation that shows strong anger or surprise as a mild swear
2
9.9
A rude phrase people say to show strong anger or frustration
1
7.2
A rude word people say when they are angry or surprised
1
9.9
A very rude exclamation showing strong anger or surprise
1
8.4
A sudden spoken word or sound showing strong feeling
1
5.5
A short word showing sudden feeling like surprise or pain
1
8.6
A rude word people use when angry or to insult someone
1
9.9
A strong spoken curse that shows deep hatred or disgust
1
9.9
A short angry or surprised shout used instead of a rude word
1
9.7
Say to show anger, surprise, or frustration
1
9.9
An old mild word people say when they are annoyed
A very strong use of the F-word that shocks people
Idioms
How Strong
- Offensive
47
6.0
- Offensive
35
3.9
- Offensive
95
8.2
36
3.2
- Specialized
1
5.5
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word expletive later came to mean a swear word, but it keeps the same Latin root plere 'to fill'. A helpful way to remember this is that a swear word 'fills' a moment of strong feeling, so today an expletive can mean a rude word used to show surprise or anger.