profanities
Words deemed offensive
Profanities are words or expressions considered irreverent, vulgar, or obscene—typically those involving religious blasphemy, bodily functions, or sex.
The term covers everything from mild oaths to hardcore obscenity: The coach let loose a string of profanities.
What counts as profanity shifts with time and culture; words that once shocked may become unremarkable.
Invoked harm through words
- swearingProfane speech or vows
- cussingUsing profane language
- cursingUsing profane language
- oathFormal binding promise
obscenity · invective · imprecation · malediction · expletive · fulmination · execration · anathema
Irreverence toward the sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- irreverenceDisregard for what's honored
- impietyIrreverence toward the divine
- desecrationViolating something sacred
Indecent word or act
- crudenessLack of sophistication
- coarsenessRough or vulgar quality
- lewdnessCrude sexual indecency
- foulnessOffensive, corrupt quality
smut · filth · ribaldry · bawdiness · scatology · raunchiness · grossness · earthiness
Insulting group label
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- invectiveAbusive denunciation
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- vituperationBitter verbal abuse
denigration · derogatory · pejorative · name-calling · verbal abuse · affront · indignity · disrespect
curse
Invoked harm through words
oath · obscenity · invective · imprecation · malediction · expletive · fulmination · execration · anathema · four-letter words
blasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- irreverenceDisregard for what's honored
- impietyIrreverence toward the divine
desecration · heresy · unspeakable · unmentionable · unprintable
obscenity
Indecent word or act
- crudenessLack of sophistication
- coarsenessRough or vulgar quality
- lewdnessCrude sexual indecency
foulness · smut · filth · ribaldry · bawdiness · scatology · raunchiness · grossness · earthiness · indecency
slur
Insulting group label
vituperation · denigration · derogatory · pejorative · name-calling · verbal abuse · affront · indignity · disrespect · disparagement
profanitiesprayers
Reverent petitions to deity
benedictions · blessings · pieties · invocations · hosannas
profanitiespleasantries
Polite conversational formalities
politeness · courtesies · niceties · civilities · polite expressions
profanitiespraises
Verbally commends
compliments · accolades · tributes · encomiums · laudations
profane, profanity, profanation, profaned, profaning, profanes, profaneness, profanely