WordPlay: Vulgar, Offensive, & Disparaging Bee Words
READER ADVISORY: This article is about, and contains, words that are generally considered offensive, derogatory, or abusive, such as those that disparage physical or mental ability, race, gender, age, appearance, occupation, socioeconomic status, etc.
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The LexiConnexxions analysis has identified many OFFENSIVE WORDS in the Spelling Bee lexicon.
This WordPlay report compiles and defines words in the Spelling Bee lexicon that standard dictionaries label as offensive, vulgar, disparaging, derogatory, etc. Bee solvers may find this compilation of interest because of the many advisories from the New York Times that offensive words are not included in the Spelling Bee.
Of usage labels used in its dictionary (the primary source of information for this series), Merriam-Webster says: “Three types of status labels are used in [the Merriam-Webster] dictionary—temporal, regional, and stylistic—to signal that a word or a sense of a word is not part of the standard vocabulary of English. … The stylistic labels disparaging, offensive, obscene, and vulgar are used for those words or senses that in common use are intended to hurt or shock or that are likely to give offense even when they are used without such an intent.” [emphasis added]
Examples of all of these types of words may be found in the Spelling Bee lexicon. While some of these words have meanings that are not disparaging, offensive, obscene, or vulgar, within a word puzzle there is no context that might lessen the effect of a potentially shocking word or explain its non-offensive meaning.
The identified words are listed at right (on laptop or desktop) or at the end of the page (on mobile); the same list with definitions is given below. Bee words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
Of usage labels used in its dictionary (the primary source of information for this series), Merriam-Webster says: “Three types of status labels are used in [the Merriam-Webster] dictionary—temporal, regional, and stylistic—to signal that a word or a sense of a word is not part of the standard vocabulary of English. … The stylistic labels disparaging, offensive, obscene, and vulgar are used for those words or senses that in common use are intended to hurt or shock or that are likely to give offense even when they are used without such an intent.” [emphasis added]
Examples of all of these types of words may be found in the Spelling Bee lexicon. While some of these words have meanings that are not disparaging, offensive, obscene, or vulgar, within a word puzzle there is no context that might lessen the effect of a potentially shocking word or explain its non-offensive meaning.
The identified words are listed at right (on laptop or desktop) or at the end of the page (on mobile); the same list with definitions is given below. Bee words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
ABOUT THE LEXITOPICS PROJECT
OFFENSIVE WORDS in the Spelling Bee lexicon
BALL: usually vulgar: testis
BANG: vulgar slang: an act of copulation; a sexual partner; also, vulgar slang: to have sexual intercourse withBANGED: vulgar slang: an act of copulation; a sexual partner; also, vulgar slang: to have sexual intercourse withBANGING: vulgar slang: an act of copulation; a sexual partner; also, vulgar slang: to have sexual intercourse withBIDDY: a hired girl or cleaning woman; also, usually disparaging: a woman, especially: an elderly woman; diminutive of the name Bridget [probably an Irish servant]BITCH*: informal + often offensive: a malicious, spiteful, or overbearing woman; used as a generalized term of abuse and disparagement for a womanBLIMP: Collins has slang, a fat person; NOAD has derogatory North American English, an obese person [probably from the airship]; also, Collins has lowercase blimp, a pompous, smug, highly conservative person, from Colonel Blimp, a cartoon character created by David Low. NOAD has lowercase blimp, derogatory British English (also Colonel Blimp), a pompous, reactionary type of person: “derives from the character invented by cartoonist David Low, used in anti-German or antigovernment drawings before and during the Second World War.”BOINK: sometimes vulgar: to copulate withBOLLIX: to throw into disorder; M-W: alteration of “bollocks, chiefly British, usually vulgar: nonsense”BONE: US, vulgar slang: to have sexual intercourse with (someone)BONED: US, vulgar slang: to have sexual intercourse with (someone)BRAT: disparaging: child, specifically: an ill-mannered annoying child; also, an ill-mannered immature personBRATTY: disparaging: child, specifically: an ill-mannered annoying child; also, an ill-mannered immature personBROAD: slang, often offensive: a womanBUBBA: M-W’s only definition capitalizes (NOAD does not) and labels "informal, often disparaging; from Bubba, a stereotypical nickname of Southern white males. NOAD’s 1st def.: “Used as an affectionate form of address to a brother” (2d is the disparaging term)CAME: often vulgar: semen or orgasm; also, often vulgar: to experience orgasmCHICK: informal + sometimes offensive: girl, womanCOCK: usually vulgar: penisCOME: often vulgar: semen or orgasm; also, often vulgar: to experience orgasmCOMING: often vulgar: semen or orgasm; also, often vulgar: to experience orgasmCONCH: often disparaging: a native or resident of the Florida KeysCOON*: M-W: offensive; used as an insulting and contemptuous term for a Black personCRAZILY: usually offensive: not mentally sound : marked by thought or action that lacks reason: insane —not used technically; also, sometimes offensive: erratic (crazy drivers); also, usually offensive: someone who is or acts mentally unsound, especially: such a person associated with a radical or extremist political causeCRAZY: usually offensive: not mentally sound : marked by thought or action that lacks reason: insane —not used technically; also, sometimes offensive: erratic (crazy drivers); also, usually offensive: someone who is or acts mentally unsound, especially: such a person associated with a radical or extremist political causeDIDDLE: usually vulgar: to copulate withDIDDLED: usually vulgar: to copulate withDIDDLING: usually vulgar: to copulate withDUMP: often vulgar: an act of defecation —usually used with takeEGGHEAD: informal + often disparaging: a person with intellectual interests or pretensions: a brainy personEGGHEADED: informal + often disparaging: a person with intellectual interests or pretensions: a brainy personFAIRY: slang, offensive: a gay person —used as a term of abuse and disparagementFART: often vulgar: an expulsion of intestinal gas; also, often vulgar: a foolish or contemptible personFARTING: often vulgar: an expulsion of intestinal gasFATTY: unduly stout: corpulent; one that is fat, especially, disparaging + offensive: an overweight personFROG: often capitalized disparaging + offensive: FrenchmanFRUIT: slang, offensive: a gay person —used as a term of abuse and disparagementGIMP*: offensive: a disabled person, or a limpGIMPING*: to limp, hobbleGIRL: sometimes offensive: a single or married woman of any ageGRINGO*: often disparaging: a foreigner in Spain or Latin America especially when of English or American origin; broadly: a non-Hispanic personHANDICAP: sometimes offensive: a physical disabilityHEATHEN: adj. old-fashioned + often disparaging: of or relating to people or nations that do not practice Christianity, Judaism, or Islam: of or relating to heathens, or noun old-fashioned + often disparaging: a person who is not religious or whose religion is not Judaism, Islam, or especially Christianity; or noun old-fashioned + disapproving: a nonreligious or uncultured personHELP: employee(s); also, often offensive: a domestic worker —usually used in plural but singular or plural in constructionHILLBILLY: often disparaging + offensive: a person from a backwoods area; from hill + Billy, nickname for WilliamHOBO: often disparaging: a usually very poor person who has no permanent residence and travels from place to place especially by furtively hopping trains; also, a migrant worker; also, to live or travel in the manner of a hobo. M-W: “Hobo functions as a neutral or positive self-descriptor. In general use, it is sometimes used disparagingly, but in some contexts the term has carried positive connotations from its association with an adventurous life that is free of obligation.”HOBOS: often disparaging: a usually very poor person who has no permanent residence and travels from place to place especially by furtively hopping trains; also, a migrant worker; also, to live or travel in the manner of a hobo. M-W: “Hobo functions as a neutral or positive self-descriptor. In general use, it is sometimes used disparagingly, but in some contexts the term has carried positive connotations from its association with an adventurous life that is free of obligation.”IDIOCY: extreme foolishness or stupidity; also, something that is extremely stupid or foolish: an idiotic action or statement; also, dated, now offensive: extreme intellectual disabilityIDIOT: dated, now offensive; a person affected with extreme intellectual disabilityIDIOTIC: dated, now offensive; a person affected with extreme intellectual disabilityIMBECILE: dated, now offensive; a person affected with moderate intellectual disabilityIMBECILIC: dated, now offensive; a person affected with moderate intellectual disabilityLAID: to lay: often vulgar: to copulate withLAME: dated, now usually offensive: unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb; the lame (dated, now usually offensive): people who are unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb (providing care for the sick and the lame)LAMED: dated, now usually offensive: unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb; the lame (dated, now usually offensive): people who are unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb (providing care for the sick and the lame)LAMELY: dated, now usually offensive: unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb; the lame (dated, now usually offensive): people who are unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb (providing care for the sick and the lame)LAYING: to lay: often vulgar: to copulate withLEAK: sometimes vulgar: an act of urinating —used especially in the phrase take a leakLUNATIC: dated, now offensive: a person affected with a severely disordered state of mind; also, dated, now offensive: affected with a severely disordered state of mind; also, dated, now offensive: providing care to mentally ill people (a lunatic asylum)MAMMY*: offensive: a Black woman serving as a nurse to white children especially formerly in the southern U.S.MENTAL: often offensive: of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder (a mental patient); sometimes offensive: mentally unsound: mad, crazy —not used technically; sometimes offensive: intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders (mental hospitals)MICK*: often capitalized, often disparaging + offensive: An Irishman; from Mick, nickname for Michael, common Irish given nameMORON: a foolish or stupid person; also, dated, now offensive: a person affected with mild intellectual disabilityMORONIC: a foolish or stupid person; also, dated, now offensive: a person affected with mild intellectual disabilityMUTE: unable to speak: lacking the power of speech; also, dated, offensive: a person who lacks the ability to speak; also, a stop, a consonant characterized by complete closure of the breath passage in the course of articulationNAPPY*: informal + sometimes offensive, of hair: naturally coarse and tightly coiledNUTTY: sometimes offensive: mentally unsoundPAGAN: old fashioned + often offensive: a person who is not religious or whose religion is not Judaism, Islam, or especially Christianity: a heathen; also, (adj.): of, relating to, or having the characteristics of pagansPATE: the head or the crown of the head; also, usually disparaging: brainPEAT: dated, disparaging: a bold lively womanPIECE: vulgar: an act of copulation; also, vulgar: the female partner in sexual intercoursePOLITICO: a politician: a person engaged in party politics as a profession; also, often disparaging: a person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow usually short-sighted reasonsPOWWOW: an American Indian social gathering or fair usually including competitive dancing; also, informal + offensive: a social get-together, a meeting for discussionPUTZ: US, vulgar slang: penisPRICK: vulgar: penis; also, slang, vulgar: a spiteful or contemptible man often having some authorityQUEEN: slang, often disparaging: a gay man, especially: an effeminate one; also, a drag queenRANDO: slang, often disparaging: a random person: a person who is not known or recognizable or whose appearance (as in a conversation or narrative) seems unprompted or unwelcomeRUNT: usually disparaging: a person of small statureRUNTY: usually disparaging: a person of small statureTAIL: slang, vulgar: sexual intercourseTAINT: vulgar slang: the area between the anus and the posterior part of the external genitalia: perineum; respelling of 'tain't, contraction of it ain't, implying that this area of the body is neither the anus nor the genitaliaTRAMP : a vagrant, usually disparaging: someone who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support; also, to journey as a tramp; also, disparaging: a woman who has multiple sexual partners: a woman who is sexually promiscuous; also, disparaging: a woman who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay: a woman who is a sex workerTRULL*: old-fashioned + usually disparaging: a woman who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay: a woman who is a sex workerUPPITY: somewhat old-fashioned: putting on or marked by airs of superiority: arrogant, presumptuous; also, somewhat old-fashioned, disparaging + sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below: aspiring to a rank or position higher than one deserves or is entitled to; probably from up + -ity (as in persnickity, variant of persnickety)VAGRANT: usually disparaging: someone who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support; also, someone whose conduct constitutes vagrancy under state statute or other applicable law or regulation; (adj) wandering about from place to place usually with no means of support; a wanderer, a roverVEGETABLE: informal + sometimes offensive : a person whose mental and physical functioning is severely impaired and especially one who requires supportive measures (such as mechanical ventilation) to surviveVIDIOT*: Not in M-W or Collins; NOAD has derogatory, informal North American English: a habitual, undiscriminating watcher of television or videos. 1940s: blend of video and idiot.WACKO: a person who is wacky; also: a psycho, informal + disparaging: a psychopathWHITE: dated, offensive: marked by upright fairness (that’s very white of you) Note: This use of white is sometimes used ironically.WINO: informal + often disparaging: a person (especially a person without a permanent place of residence) who is habitually drunk on wine; also, somewhat informal: a wine enthusiast or connoisseur
OFFENSIVE WORDS
in the Spelling Bee Lexicon
BALLBANG
BANGEDBANGINGBIDDYBITCH*BLIMPBOINKBOLLIXBONEBONEDBRATBRATTYBROADBUBBACAMECHICKCOCKCOMECOMINGCONCHCOON*CRAZILYCRAZYDIDDLEDIDDLEDDIDDLINGDUMPEGGHEADEGGHEADEDFAIRYFARTFARTINGFATTYFROGFRUITGIMP*GIMPING*GIRLGRINGO*HANDICAPHEATHENHELPHILLBILLYHOBOHOBOS
IDIOCYIDIOTIDIOTICIMBECILEIMBECILICLAIDLAMELAMEDLAMELYLAYINGLEAKLUNATICMAMMY*MENTALMICK*MORONMORONICMUTENAPPY*NUTTYPAGANPATEPEATPIECEPOLITICOPOWWOWPUTZPRICKQUEENRANDORUNTRUNTYTAILTAINTTRAMP TRULL*UPPITYVAGRANTVEGETABLEVIDIOT*WACKOWHITEWINO