Our word today is eureka. It is a kind of word called an expletive. Expletives are quick, short outcries of pain, surprise, anger or joy. We hear them all the time.
Source: tatoeba (12240441)
Expletive
/ˈɛksplətɪv/
Synonyms for "expletive" (131 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (27)
Strong matches (39)
duplicationduplication of effortdysphemismecphonesisejaculationembellishmentepithetexcessexclamationexpendableextravagancefatfeatherbeddingfillerfillingfoul invectivefrillfrillsfripperygingerbread
Show 5 more words
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Interjection(1 words)
Pronoun(1 words)
Related words (65)
Adjective(2 words)
naughty wordneedlessneedlessnessno nono-nononessentialoathobscenityornamentationoutburstoveradornmentoverlappaddingpayroll paddingpleonasmpleonasticprofane oathprolixprolixityredundance
Show 28 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: curse word, swearword, bastard, battology, bedizenment.
- Sentence evidence is available for expletive, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "expletive".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "expletive"
Keep "expletive" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "expletive" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "expletive", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "expletive" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesemotive descriptorfunction wordgrammatical elementlexemelinguistic descriptorprofanityutterancevocalizationword
More specific
11 entriesCollocations
11 entriesdummy subjectexistential thereexpletive attributiveexpletive discourseexpletive emphasisexpletive languageexpletive useexpletive utteranceexpletive wordlinguistic expletivepleonastic it
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
No one entered more fully than Shakespeare into the character of this species of poetry, which admits of no expletive imagery, no merely ornamental line.
Source: wiktionary
deprecating being taken for ſerious, or to be underſtood that he meaneth any thing by them; but only that he uſeth them as expletive phraſes ... to plump his ſpeech, and fill up ſentences.
Source: wiktionary
If we don't take advantage of any [expletive] in any way, then it's our loss.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "expletive"?
Closest matches include curse word, swearword, bastard, battology, bedizenment.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "expletive"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.