swearing
Using bad words
Swearing is the use of profane, obscene, or taboo language—words like *fuck*, *shit*, and *damn*.
People swear to express strong emotion, add emphasis, or shock: The swearing in that movie was excessive.
Swearing also means taking an oath: the swearing-in of the new president.
These senses connect through the idea of solemn or emphatic speech.
Invoked harm through words
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
- cussSpeak profanely
- vulgarityOffensive coarseness in manner
- obscenityIndecent word or act
blasphemy · cursing · swearword · profane · coarse · crude · off-color · salty
Sworn statement as evidence
- affidavitSworn written statement
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- notarizeOfficially certify documents
witness · attest · cross-examination · courtroom · Bible · truth · veracity · foreswear
Intense hostile emotion
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- outburstSudden emotional release
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
- ventingReleasing emotion verbally
exclamation · rage · fury · irritation · annoyance · temper · pain · surprise
Insulting group label
- insultOffensive remark or action
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- racistOne prejudiced by ethnicity
- homophobicPrejudiced against gay people
sexist · derogatory · discriminatory · xenophobic · misogynistic · hate-speech · abusive · disparaging
Binding promise given
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- promiseCommitment to act
- covenantBinding formal pledge
affirmation · declaration · fealty · devotion · commitment · bond · troth · sacrament
Not allowed
- transgressiveViolating accepted boundaries
- censoredSuppressed from publication
- bleepedObscured by tone
- bowdlerizedEdited out indecencies
sanitized · expurgated · unmentionable · unspeakable · shocking · scandalous · improper · indecent
curse
Invoked harm through words
obscenity · blasphemy · cursing · swearword · profane · coarse · crude · off-color · salty · earthy
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
- affidavitSworn written statement
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
notarize · witness · attest · cross-examination · courtroom · Bible · truth · veracity · foreswear
anger
Intense hostile emotion
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- outburstSudden emotional release
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
venting · exclamation · rage · fury · irritation · annoyance · temper · pain · surprise · shock
slur
Insulting group label
homophobic · sexist · derogatory · discriminatory · xenophobic · misogynistic · hate-speech · abusive · disparaging · contemptuous
pledge
Binding promise given
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- promiseCommitment to act
covenant · affirmation · declaration · fealty · devotion · commitment · bond · troth · sacrament · avowal
forbidden
Not allowed
- transgressiveViolating accepted boundaries
- censoredSuppressed from publication
- bleepedObscured by tone
bowdlerized · sanitized · expurgated · unmentionable · unspeakable · shocking · scandalous · improper · indecent · pearl-clutching
- bad behaviorslying, cheating, stealing, rudeness, gossiping
- bad habitssmoking, drinking, lying, gossiping, overeating
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- impietyungodliness, unholiness, irreverence, sacrilege, blasphemy
- locker room talkcrude jokes, dirty jokes, trash talk, smack talk, bragging
swearingrefined language
Polished, cultivated speech
clean language · euphemism · civil discourse · nonswearing · minced oaths
swearingblessing
Prayer seeking divine favor
benediction · prayer · praise · sanctifying · consecration
swearingforswearing
Formally rejecting or abandoning
recanting · denying · renouncing · retracting · repudiating
- swearing inFormal oath-taking ceremony
- swearing like a sailorSpeaking with excessive profanity
- swearing in ceremony
- swearing atDirecting profanity toward
- pinky swearingPromise sealed with littlest fingers
- swearing like a trooperUsing abundant vulgar language
answer, swear, sworn, swore, swears, forswear, swearer, unsworn, swear on a stack of Bibles