as in profanity
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1
as in cursing
to use offensive or indecent language
no one is allowed to swear in this house
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in vowing
to make a solemn declaration of intent
swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in testifying
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact
the sworn statement of the witness was presented as evidence
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swearing
Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2026
The swearing is certainly not pervasive, though, and only occurs here and there; there are large stretches of the film that are totally clean language-wise.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Ezra Galicia's swearing-in ceremony with the Colton Police Department.
—Lesley Marin, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Apparently, all the swearing and drama is par for the course, as far as the golfer is concerned.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
With Tuesday’s appointment, Thomas became the first Asian American police chief in Dakota County and just the second in Minnesota history — a milestone recognized by representatives from the Minnesota Asian Police Officers Association, who attended his swearing-in ceremony.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
That led to swearing and arguments on the ice and became an international headline.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Some incidents included use-of-force and other behavioral concerns, including discussions over whether to provide bodycam where deputies were swearing to the show.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
If Rob Manfred were to wake up tomorrow morning and decide to do away with the seventh-inning stretch, untold amounts of swearing and freaking out would ensue, even though the origins of the practice are murky and the exercise itself is largely an empty signifier.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
That norm changed somewhat during Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, when transcripts of White House recordings revealed his penchant for swearing.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Warren was bleeding but conscious, propped on an elbow, ordering Sneaky to get the sheep back, swearing when the man tried to move him.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Another research project showed that negative spectator behaviors like swearing or threatening language was observed at 68% of events.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
Kempthorne was the first secretary of the interior to previously serve as governor, senator and mayor, Bush said at Kempthorne’s swearing-in.
—Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2026
The swearing is certainly not pervasive, though, and only occurs here and there; there are large stretches of the film that are totally clean language-wise.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Ezra Galicia's swearing-in ceremony with the Colton Police Department.
—Lesley Marin, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Apparently, all the swearing and drama is par for the course, as far as the golfer is concerned.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
With Tuesday’s appointment, Thomas became the first Asian American police chief in Dakota County and just the second in Minnesota history — a milestone recognized by representatives from the Minnesota Asian Police Officers Association, who attended his swearing-in ceremony.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Markwayne Mullin, the new Department of Homeland Security secretary sworn in Tuesday, had his confirmation hearing, floor vote and swearing-in all within a weeklong period.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
That led to swearing and arguments on the ice and became an international headline.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
Davidson, 54, became the subject of numerous documentaries, and in 2019, made headlines for unintentionally swearing at Queen Elizabeth II while receiving an award for his advocacy work.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Some incidents included use-of-force and other behavioral concerns, including discussions over whether to provide bodycam where deputies were swearing to the show.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
If Rob Manfred were to wake up tomorrow morning and decide to do away with the seventh-inning stretch, untold amounts of swearing and freaking out would ensue, even though the origins of the practice are murky and the exercise itself is largely an empty signifier.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
That norm changed somewhat during Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, when transcripts of White House recordings revealed his penchant for swearing.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Warren was bleeding but conscious, propped on an elbow, ordering Sneaky to get the sheep back, swearing when the man tried to move him.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Another research project showed that negative spectator behaviors like swearing or threatening language was observed at 68% of events.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swearing
Noun
-
Once inside the club, the affidavit alleges that Bell began arguing with other dancers, running around, throwing items, and using profanity.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Just this insane profanity-laden tirade that went on and on and on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Etsy witches are cursing Klay Thompson Wow.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Armenians at home and in the diaspora voiced their outrage at the friendly message, drawing up grievances and cursing the government, often with expletives.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The rights group warns that the move violates freedom of association and represents a direct assault on Tunisia’s democratic gains, vowing to challenge the decision in court.—
Ghaya ben Mbarek,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The administration is vowing to challenge the ruling.—
Maria Sacchetti,
Washington Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For six years survivors of female genital mutilation have been calling on lawmakers to ban the practice, testifying about the painful emotional and physical consequences of the traditional custom prohibited in 41 other states.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Glockner was tasked with a redo of the company’s ethics and investigations program and testifying before the Illinois House’s six-member special investigating committee in September 2020.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For creatives, its use was treated like blasphemy.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Interreligious tension exists, with arbitrary detentions of Christians and arrests under the nation’s blasphemy laws.—
Mathew Schmalz,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As members of both teams poured onto the field, Miller stood his ground and started aggressively pointing at and cussing out more Reds, directing them back towards their dugout.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
His endless threats, coupled with his waves of cussing, make Trump sound like a drunk in a bar looking for a fight.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Russia has been grabbing Mali’s precious minerals, including gold, in return for promising to protect the country against the rebels.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
While the early results are promising, Zhou stressed that the technology is still in its infancy and faces significant scalability challenges.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swearing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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