slur

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo : aspersion
b
: a shaming or degrading effect : stain, stigma
2
: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge

slur

2 of 4

verb (1)

slurred; slurring

transitive verb

1
: to cast aspersions on : disparage
slurred his reputation
2
: to make indistinct : obscure

intransitive verb

: to slip so as to cause a slur
used of a sheet being printed

slur

3 of 4

verb (2)

slurred; slurring

transitive verb

1
a
: to slide or slip over without due mention, consideration, or emphasis
slurred over certain facts
b
: to perform hurriedly : skimp
let him not slur his lessonR. W. Emerson
2
: to perform (successive tones of different pitch) in a smooth or connected manner
3
a
: to reduce, make a substitution for, or omit (sounds that would normally occur in an utterance)
b
: to utter with such reduction, substitution, or omission of sounds
his speech was slurred

intransitive verb

1
dialectal, chiefly England : slip, slide
2

slur

4 of 4

noun (2)

1
a
: a curved line connecting notes to be sung to the same syllable or performed without a break
b
: the combination of two or more slurred tones
2
: a slurring manner of speech

Examples of slur in a Sentence

Noun (1) a rowdy group of patrons was kicked out of the theater for shouting slurs your drunken behavior at the wedding has cast a slur on this family
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce was caught on video smashing a person’s phone on the ground and appearing to say an anti-gay slur after the person used the slur to describe Travis Kelce in reference to his relationship with Taylor Swift. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024 Further video shows Kelce in a heated exchange with the man, using the same slur back at him multiple times. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
By this point in the day, Meredith is slurring her defense to Whitney, which does not hold up. Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024 Full fact check: Harris has visited US southern border twice as vice president Claim: Video shows Harris slurred words in Helene remarks Our rating: Altered The video was manipulated to slow Harris' speech. Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slur 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete English dialect slur thin mud, from Middle English sloor; akin to Middle High German slier mud

Verb (2)

probably from Low German slurrn to shuffle; akin to Middle English sloor mud

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of slur was in 1609

Dictionary Entries Near slur

Cite this Entry

“Slur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slur. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

slur

1 of 4 verb
slurred; slurring
1
a
: to slide or slip over without proper mention, consideration, or emphasis
b
: to perform hurriedly : skimp
2
: to sing or play successive musical notes of different pitch in a smooth or connected manner
3
: to speak unclearly

slur

2 of 4 noun
1
a
: a curved line connecting notes to be sung or played without a break
b
: the combination of two or more slurred tones
2
: a slurring manner of speech

slur

3 of 4 verb
slurred; slurring
1
: to make an insulting remark about : disparage
2
: to make unclear : obscure

slur

4 of 4 noun
1
a
: damaging criticism
2
: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge

More from Merriam-Webster on slur

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