slur
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈslər 
1
a
: an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo : aspersion
b
: a shaming or degrading effect : stain, stigma
2
: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge
slur
2 of 4verb (1)
slurred; slurring
transitive verb
1
: to cast aspersions on : disparage
slurred his reputation
2
: to make indistinct : obscure
intransitive verb
: to slip so as to cause a slur —used of a sheet being printed
slur
3 of 4verb (2)
slurred; slurring
transitive verb
1
a
: to slide or slip over without due mention, consideration, or emphasis
slurred over certain facts
b
: to perform hurriedly : skimp
let him not slur his lesson
R. W. Emerson
R. W. Emerson2
: to perform (successive tones of different pitch) in a smooth or connected manner
3
a
: to reduce, make a substitution for, or omit (sounds that would normally occur in an utterance)
b
: to utter with such reduction, substitution, or omission of sounds
his speech was slurred
intransitive verb
1
dialectal, chiefly England : slip, slide
2
: drag, shuffle
slur
4 of 4noun (2)
1
a
: a curved line connecting notes to be sung to the same syllable or performed without a break
b
: the combination of two or more slurred tones
2
: a slurring manner of speech
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- affront
- barb
- brickbat
- cut
- dart
- dig
- dis [slang]
- diss
- epithet
- gird
- indignity
- insult
- name
- offense
- offence
- outrage
- personality
- poke
- put-down
- sarcasm
- slap
- slight
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
obsolete English dialect slur thin mud, from Middle English sloor; akin to Middle High German slier mud
Verb (2)
probably from Low German slurrn to shuffle; akin to Middle English sloor mud
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
circa 1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
slur 1 of 3
noun
ˈslər
: an insulting remark
slur
2 of 3verb
slurred; slurring
: to speak in a way that is difficult to understand
slur
3 of 3noun
: a way of talking that is difficult to understand
slurring
verb
1
as in crooning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- crooning
- warbling
- quavering
- lilting
- trilling
- humming
- scatting
- yodeling
- trolling
- vocalizing
- yodelling
- singing
- chanting
- sharping
- belting
- harmonizing
- descanting
- serenading
- caroling
- carolling
2
as in insulting
Synonyms & Similar Words
- insulting
- disparaging
- blaspheming
- affronting
- cursing
- belittling
- execrating
- berating
- harassing
- scolding
- haranguing
- reviling
- profaning
- slandering
- aspersing
- traducing
- blackguarding
- bad-mouthing
- vilifying
- attacking
- libeling
- criticizing
- chiding
- imprecating
- excoriating
- slamming
- harrying
- assailing
- libelling
- scathing
- abusing
- savaging
- whipping
- castigating
- chastising
- bashing
- reprimanding
- trashing
- rebuking
- fulminating
- lambasting
- blasting
- belaboring
- vituperating
- putting down
- potshotting
- jumping (on)
- lacing (into)
- lashing (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- complimenting
- praising
- commending
- hailing
- acclaiming
- lauding