curse word
11
5.8
- noun
- /kɜrs wɜrd/
- Offensive
- Does your partner use curse words with your child?
- utter a curse word
- say a curse word
- use curse words
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Watch on YouTubeThey know he's a comedian that says says every curse word, makes fun of every group.
- They know he's a comedian that says says every curse word, makes fun of every group.
- I have to go in and silence all curse words.
- I'm not going to list every curse word I know, but oh, man, I wish you would have said, like, puss or something.
- And all these curse words coming out and all this, like the little kids, like you, you left me.
Examples
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Can I say that curse word now?
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Today we are going to harness the power of curse words without having to actually curse or offend anybody.
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I think it's one of the worst curse words made.
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Ever heard him use a curse word? - Not ever.
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But today, the word "white" is a curse word.
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I have always believed that there is a place for the appropriately placed curse word.
Blog text (27) -
When no other word will do, a curse word is perfectly acceptable to me!
Blog text (20) -
It's like they're posting a curse word and want to be politically correct so as not to offend anyone.
Blog text (12) -
And Rolando turns out to be a treasure trove of curse words in Tagalog.
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He was so angry that he shouted a curse word in frustration.
Synonyms
95
8.2
A rude word used to show strong anger or surprise
50
7.4
Sexual or rude material that offends people
47
6.0
Words that are rude and upset people, often about religion
35
3.9
A bad word said in anger
33
7.0
Strong rude words that shock or upset people
26
7.1
A word people think is rude or not polite
4
8.6
A rude word people say when they are angry
2
6.1
A rude word that is not for children
2
6.1
A rude word said to show strong anger or surprise
1
7.2
A rude word people say when they are angry or surprised
1
9.8
A rude word about sex or body parts
1
8.6
A rude word people use when angry or to insult someone
1
9.2
An offensive or rude word considered inappropriate in polite speech
1
9.9
A strong spoken curse that shows deep hatred or disgust
Antonyms
How Offensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a profane or obscene word' is directly derivable from combining 'curse' (profane/expletive) with 'word' (a unit of speech). This straightforward noun+noun composition is cross-linguistically common and follows ordinary semantic composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase curse word comes from the old use of curse meaning to say words that call bad luck or harm on someone, so people saw these words as 'forbidden'. That's why today a curse word is a rude or offensive word used to show strong anger or surprise.