vulgarities
Words that offend
Vulgarities are crude or offensive words and expressions—profanity, obscenity, and coarse language generally.
The term can also refer to instances of tasteless or unrefined behavior: The comedian's act was full of vulgarities.
What counts as a vulgarity shifts with context; words acceptable among friends may be vulgarities in formal settings.
Vulgar exclamations
- obscenitiesGrossly offensive language
- cursesSworn oaths or hexes
- oathsSolemn binding promises
- blasphemiesIrreverent utterances against religion
imprecations · invective · maledictions · epithets · execrations · vituperation · cursing · swearing
Rough or vulgar quality
- crassnessTactless, unrefined behavior
- lewdnessCrude sexual indecency
- raunchinessCrude sexual vulgarity
- bawdinessIndecent or vulgar quality
ribaldry · smuttiness · indecency · indelicacy · grossness · earthiness · tastelessness · boorishness
Clothing considered improper to discuss
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- indecorumViolation of accepted standards
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
Everyday regional speech
- argotGroup-specific coded speech
- cantSanctimonious insincerity
- colloquialismsInformal everyday expressions
- lingoGroup-specific vocabulary
expletives
Vulgar exclamations
- obscenitiesGrossly offensive language
- cursesSworn oaths or hexes
- oathsSolemn binding promises
blasphemies · imprecations · invective · maledictions · epithets · execrations · vituperation · cursing · swearing · cussing
coarseness
Rough or vulgar quality
- crassnessTactless, unrefined behavior
- lewdnessCrude sexual indecency
- raunchinessCrude sexual vulgarity
bawdiness · ribaldry · smuttiness · indecency · indelicacy · grossness · earthiness · tastelessness · boorishness · uncouthness
unmentionables
Clothing considered improper to discuss
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- indecorumViolation of accepted standards
censorship · bleeping · asterisks · redaction · stigma · scandal
vernacular
Everyday regional speech
- argotGroup-specific coded speech
- cantSanctimonious insincerity
- colloquialismsInformal everyday expressions
- cursescurse, curses, hex, hexes, jinx
- dialectsregional dialect, local dialect, patois, vernaculars, vernacular
vulgaritiescourtesies
Polite social behaviors
pleasantries · civilities · niceties · refined language · polite expressions
vulgaritiesrefinements
Incremental quality upgrades
elegancies · sophistications · high culture · gentility · good breeding
vulgaritiespieties
Acts of reverence
blessings · prayers · benedictions · devotions · sanctities