offensive slur
- noun
- /əˈfɛnsɪv slɜr/
- Slur
- Using an offensive slur can deeply hurt the feelings of those targeted by it.
Examples
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Many people were hurt by the offensive slur he used.
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She was shocked when she overheard someone use an offensive slur during the meeting.
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The company has a strict policy against any use of an offensive slur in the workplace.
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Using an offensive slur can cause serious harm and be deeply hurtful to others.
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Using an offensive slur is unacceptable.
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In his speech, he avoided using any offensive slurs to show respect for all communities.
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The documentary discussed the impact of an offensive slur on the marginalized group it targets.
Synonyms
A rude remark or action that hurts someone's feelings
An insulting remark that harms someone's reputation
Using rude words to insult someone
A word people think is rude or not polite
An insulting word or phrase that hurts someone
A rude word people say to show strong anger or surprise
An insulting word used to hurt people because of their race or nationality
A rude comment meant to hurt someone or show no respect
A rude word people use when angry or to insult someone
An insulting word used instead of a more neutral one
Antonyms
How Offensive
- Slur
- Offensive
- Offensive
- Offensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'offensive' (insulting) modifies 'slur' (a derogatory remark), yielding an insulting or derogatory remark aimed at a group. This straightforward adjective+noun combination follows normal English composition and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand it.
Etymology
Offensive slur combines offensive, meaning 'hurtful', and slur, an old word for a dirty mark or 'smear' on someone's name. Imagine someone drawing a dark smear across a photo to make someone look bad — that image helps you remember that an offensive slur is a hurtful word that damages or shames a person or group.