taboo subject
Socially off-limits discussion
A taboo subject is a topic that people avoid discussing because it violates social norms or makes others uncomfortable.
Sex, death, bodily functions, and certain political or religious matters commonly fall into this category, though what counts as taboo varies across cultures and generations.
Money used to be a taboo subject at dinner parties.
Bringing up a taboo subject can create awkwardness or give offense, which is precisely why some people do it deliberately.
- lyingStating known falsehoods
- family secretsConcealed household truths
- incestRelations between kin
- domestic violenceAbuse between household members
- public nudityUnclothed state in common areas
blasphemy · censorship · profanity · caste system · cheating · apostasy · honor killings · sex talk · sexual orientation · war crimes · political dissent · capital punishment · adultery · sacrilege · heresy · euthanasia · abortion · superstition
- Awkward Topicsawkward silence, TMI, oversharing
- Forbiddenforbidden, prohibited, banned, not allowed, off-limits
taboo subjectpolite conversation
Courteous social discourse
small talk · casual conversation · common ground · icebreaker · water cooler talk
taboo, taboos, tabooed, tabooing, subject, subjects, subjected, subjecting, subjection