r-word
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r-word¹
- /ˈɑː.wɜːd/ UK
- /ˈɑɹ.wɝd/ US
noun r-words · R-word
-
The word retard or retarded, regarded as a vulgar or taboo word.
I recently spoke supporting a new name for the President's Committee on Mental Retardation. I suggested it be changed to "President's Committee for People with Developmental Disabilities."
Similar: r-slur
- The word rape, regarded as a vulgar or taboo word. "Updike can use the `R' word" (rape, he meant) "to describe the love-making (sic) of the two Brazilians and get away with it."
- The word redskin or redskins (including Redskins as a team name) regarded as a vulgar or taboo word. For years, Native American Indian groups and a wide variety of knee-jerk liberal sympathizers, including me, your humble scrivener, have pointed fingers of shame, shame, shame at the R-word team.
- Any word beginning with r that is considered (often humorously) to be taboo in the given context. Neither Mayor David N. Dinkins nor Mr. Cuomo, though, has been reluctant to invoke the symbolism of another R-word: Republican.
R-word²
noun R-words
- Alternative letter-case form of r-word
verb R-words · R-wording · R-worded
- Alternative letter-case form of r-word
Talk about this word "r-word." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/r-word. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. r-word. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/r-word "r-word." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/r-word.
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@misc{r_word_2026,
title = {r-word},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/r-word},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
