You can't say words considered obscene, indecent, or profane on broadcast TV (like the FCC prohibits), but there's no single "forbidden" word; instead, it's a category of offensive language including strong swear words (like "f*ck," "c*nt," "motherf*cker," "s*it," "b*tch"), hate speech, and slurs, with enforcement varying by network, time of day, and content. Comedian George Carlin famously listed "Seven Dirty Words" that were banned, highlighting the inconsistent rules.
The seven dirty words are seven English-language profanities that the American comedian George Carlin first listed in his 1972 "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" monologue. The words, in the order Carlin listed them, are: "shit", "piss", "fuck", "cunt", "cocksucker", "motherfucker", and "tits".
Federal law prohibits obscene, indecent and profane content from being broadcast on the radio or TV. That may seem clear enough, but determining what obscene, indecent and profane mean can be difficult, depending on who you talk to.
There's no single "number one" swear word universally agreed upon, but the F-word (fuck) is widely considered the most vulgar and offensive in English, while words like damn, hell, shit, and ass are also extremely common, varying in intensity by region (US, UK, Australia) and context, with "hell" often seen as milder or acceptable in public.
As far as I can tell, the limits are as follows...
"Crap" is generally considered mild profanity or vulgar slang, not a true "bad word" like a stronger expletive, but it's inappropriate for formal or professional settings and depends heavily on context, audience, and intent; it can express frustration (e.g., "This crap isn't working") but is best avoided around bosses, teachers, or elders, while being fine with friends.
We employ an AI-automated language filtering program that “reads” movies and television shows to look for profanity and other objectionable words to ensure a family-friendly viewing for all. AI language filtering may sound complicated, but our filters are designed to be easy to use.
Yes, "piss" (P*ss) is generally considered a vulgar or impolite word, though its offensiveness depends heavily on context, audience, and region; it's slang for urination or, more commonly in the US, being angry ("pissed off"), but in the UK, "pissed" can mean drunk, making it a word to use carefully in formal settings or with strangers, similar to other crude slang but less severe than major obscenities.
Christians should avoid profanity. The Bible emphasizes the power and sacredness of speech. It calls Christ-followers to use words that build up rather than tear down. Traditionally, new believers in every culture have felt convicted about swearing and have adjusted their language after coming to faith.
Merriam-Webster states it is a "usually disparaging and obscene" term for a woman, and that it is an "offensive way to refer to a woman" in the United States. In American slang, the term can also be used to refer to "a fellow male homosexual one dislikes".
The F-bomb can be used in TV-14 programs, with moderate uses, moreover it is more limited than in the MPA's PG-13 rating.
It certainly was back in 1965, when theatre critic Kenneth Tynan became a pioneer of profanity when he uttered the word 'f–k' live on the BBC. It's thought to be the first time anyone had said the word on English-language television.
Appropriate Alternatives for the Exclamation “F*ck!”
Damn is nowadays a mildly profane word for some people in English, although God damn (or Goddamn) may be considered blasphemous by the religiously devout, who regard it as a violation of the commandment against taking God's name in vain.
2025 Banished Words List
By definition, swear words are offensive. If a word, over time, ceases to be offensive, then it falls out of use as a swear word. Offence alone is not enough, though, for we can offend with language without swearing. The N-word, for example, is what is called a slur: it is a derogatory term about an entire group.
It's only a mortal sin if you deliberately are cursing God.
Other times it is merely an innocent surprise reaction which, while morally problematic to thoughtlessly use the name of God, does not arise to a level of serious sin. Use of “oh my gosh” or “goodness” does not reference God and therefore would not be considered to be sinful.
No, "freaking" isn't a curse word in the Bible and isn't a sin to say. This means religious people who obey the Bible can feel safe saying this word if they want to. However, they should avoid using it when they pray or while speaking to a religious official (i.e., a pastor, priest, or nun) out of respect.
Pee is an informal but common word that means "to urinate." Of all the slang words for bodily functions, this is one of the least offensive. Though it's not very naughty to talk about peeing or taking a pee, this term is a little childish.
It's no surprise that “ass” has accrued so many meanings. The word sits in the center of the potent slang venn diagram — it's related to sex, it's considered a curse word, and it's metaphorically evocative. “Ass” is not so much exceptional as it is representative of the slang ethos.
WTF is a profane slang expression that teenagers use to express exasperation, irritation, or incredulity. The abbreviation is considered less offensive than saying the actual words that it stands for. Another way to express the thought in a manner that is milder is to use the military code, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
What is 9875 code on Netflix? Netflix code 9875 is for true crime documentaries. To use it, type this into your browser's address bar: netflix.com/browse/genre/9875.
The Netflix 2-minute rule refers to the fact that if a user watches more than two minutes of a TV show or movie, this is counted as a view.
We may allow vulgar language when the primary purpose is educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic, and it isn't gratuitous. For example, the title of a song with a curse word or a song that contains large amounts of profanity.