as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
clapped her hands over the toddler's ears so he wouldn't hear the four-letter word
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Recent Examples of four-letter word
In an audio excerpt, an air traffic controller can be heard uttering a four-letter word.
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Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2023
The only hard coral in Rhode Island waters, it’s often described with a four-letter word: drab.
—BostonGlobe.com, 20 May 2021
Their cackling machinations to keep their seats and punish opponents, all while insulting Black people, Oaxacans and others, made the very idea of Latino political power a four-letter word.
—Gustavo Arellanocolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2022
Mater Dei Catholic tennis coach Jose Oropeza says there is a four-letter word that is unacceptable on his team.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for four-letter word 
Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2023
The only hard coral in Rhode Island waters, it’s often described with a four-letter word: drab.
—BostonGlobe.com, 20 May 2021
Their cackling machinations to keep their seats and punish opponents, all while insulting Black people, Oaxacans and others, made the very idea of Latino political power a four-letter word.
—Gustavo Arellanocolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2022
Mater Dei Catholic tennis coach Jose Oropeza says there is a four-letter word that is unacceptable on his team.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for four-letter word
Recent Examples of Synonyms for four-letter word
Noun
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There has never been a busier time or more information available than right now, which is both a blessing and a curse.Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025
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The delivery app market — dominated by DoorDash, UberEats and Grubhub — seems to be a blessing and a curse for restaurant operators.Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Only after the Cold War ended did a neoconservative foreign policy consensus come to dominate the American right—and diplomacy became a dirty word for Republicans.Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
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Ultimately, Newcastle have decided the time is right to move on from the power couple who made all of this possible, who always believed and never gave up, who persuaded fans that ambition and yearning were not dirty words.George Caulkin, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
Noun
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Lighting too forms a kind of architectural language, with track fixtures, uplights, and Ingo Maurer icons casting a calm collective glow.Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 15 Jan. 2025
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Some 240 people work there in various tech startups, AI incubators and food science labs, conducting research and business in at least 14 languages.Ann Abel, Forbes, 15 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
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Cite this Entry
“Four-letter word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/four-letter%20word. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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