as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
I'm afraid I won't be much help on the trip—the only Spanish I know is a handful of dirty words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dirty word
Now, changing customer attitudes, regulatory action, and improvements by larger financial players have made tipping and junk fees dirty words.
—
Jennifer Tescher, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Now, free trade is a dirty word for Democrats and Republicans alike.
—Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 2 Mar. 2021
Hot With a Vengeance, Sable Yong looks to understand why vanity is still such a dirty word in a culture so obsessed with beauty.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 27 June 2024
Nuance is a dirty word inside the Valley of the Stupid.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dirty word 
Jennifer Tescher, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Now, free trade is a dirty word for Democrats and Republicans alike.
—Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 2 Mar. 2021
Hot With a Vengeance, Sable Yong looks to understand why vanity is still such a dirty word in a culture so obsessed with beauty.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 27 June 2024
Nuance is a dirty word inside the Valley of the Stupid.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dirty word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty word
Noun
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Glamour is a gift and a curse as Venus and Neptune align.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
1 Feb. 2025
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Google / Ars Technica A cathartic curse eliminates the AI Overview in the results.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The station asked the band not to include the swears.—
Kris Holt,
Forbes,
2 Dec. 2024
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There’s a heavy focus on Asia’s first One&Only spa, featuring a green caviar body exfoliation and an Augustinus Bader facial celebs swear by.—
Katie Lockhart,
Robb Report,
11 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The Academy didn’t seem to mind, awarding the film 13 Oscar nods, the most for any non-English language film in history.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
8 Feb. 2025
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During its time of suspension, Thomas said the district along with the cities and law enforcement agencies, wrote letters in support of SROs to the legislature requesting to change language in the law to be able to bring back SROs into schools to ensure students and staff safety.—
Jacqueline Devine,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near dirty word
Cite this Entry
“Dirty word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty%20word. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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