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curse words

/kɜːrs wɜːdz/
noun phrase★Intermediate— offensive or vulgar language
informal

Profane or obscene language that is considered offensive or inappropriate in polite conversation.

The movie contained strong curse words that were bleeped out on TV.

The movie included offensive language that was censored on television.

Parents often worry about their children hearing curse words from peers.

Parents frequently concern themselves with their kids being exposed to vulgar language from friends.

💡

Curse words are often used to express strong emotions like anger, frustration, or surprise. They are generally avoided in formal or professional settings.

Collocations

drop curse wordsto use offensive languagebleep out curse wordsto censor offensive language

Synonyms

profanityswear wordsobscenitiesvulgar language

Antonyms

polite languageclean languagerespectful speech

Related Phrases

swear like a sailoridiom
to use a lot of curse words
clean up your languagephrase
to stop using offensive words

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

The appropriateness of curse words depends heavily on the context. They are generally acceptable among close friends but inappropriate in formal or professional settings.

⚡Gold Rule

Respectful Communication

Avoid using curse words in professional or formal settings to maintain respect and professionalism.

📖Word Origin

The term 'curse words' combines 'curse' (from Old English 'cursian', meaning to invoke evil) and 'words' (from Old English 'word'). The phrase refers to language that is considered taboo or offensive.

📝Usage Notes

Curse words are often used in informal contexts to express strong emotions. However, they are generally avoided in formal or professional settings. Different cultures and languages have their own sets of curse words, which may vary in offensiveness.

Word Breakdown

curse
to invoke evil or misfortune
root
+
words
spoken or written language
root
English Dictionary

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