SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
profanity
noun
Offensive or irreverent language, especially swearing.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Offensive speech
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topBlasphemy specifically concerns disrespect toward the sacred. An expletive is an individual expression and is not always offensive.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See profanity in use
The editor removed the profanity while preserving the character's frustration.
Profanity shouted across the room added offensive language to a gathering intended to welcome residents of different ages.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license