65+ “F*ck” Synonyms: Appropriate Ways to Say Your Favorite Swear Word

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Plus, learn where curse words and “f*ck” came from

Co-authored by Lizzy Hanks and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: February 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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For “F*cking”

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For “Have Sex”

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For Common “F*ck” Phrases

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Online

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F*ck FAQs

Aw fudge! We all feel the urge to swear sometimes, but the F-word isn’t exactly something you want to say too loudly in very many situations. If you’re looking for some cleaner ways to use it, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for a forkin’ fabulous list of ways to say “f*ck,” “f*ck it,” “f*cking,” and more of your favorite expletive-laden expressions.

Best Alternatives for “F*ck”

Choose a short F-word like “fudge” or “fork” to replace “f*ck” or “f*ck it” (you could even make up a nonsense word, like “fark”). Or, try words like “flippin’” or “frickin’” to swap out “f*cking.” There are also plenty of old-timey expressions like “Fiddlesticks!” or “What the Sam Hill?” you can use.

Section 1 of 6:

Appropriate Alternatives for the Exclamation “F*ck!”

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Try using a different, 1-syllable F-word in place of “f*ck.” When you stub your toe or lock your keys in your car, it’s natural to want to yell “F*ck!” at the top of your lungs (we’ve all been there). Well, these short F-words sound super similar and are almost as cathartic to say. Some are real words with a different meaning (like “fudge” or “frack”) and some are just made up to sound like f*ck. Use them when you mean “f*ck!” or “f*ck it!”
- Frick!
- Freak!
- Frack!
- Fark!
- Fork!
- Feck!
- Fudge!
- Phooey!
- Other substitutes for “F*ck it!” include “screw it, “to hell with it,” “forget about it,” or “whatever.”
- You can also say “the F-word” or “the F-bomb” to refer to the word “f*ck” itself.
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Or, try these completely different words and phrases instead. Your F-word alternatives don’t have to sound like “f*ck” at all to get your point across. Here are some common things people say when they want to avoid swearing (some of these could apply to other curse words like “sh*t” or “damn it” too). These sound pretty corny or old-fashioned today, but they sure are fun to say!^{[1]
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- Barnacles!
- Dagnabbit!
- Drat!
- Fudgsicles!
- Mother of Pearl!
- Heavens to Betsy!
- What the Sam Hill?
- Good gravy!
- Jiminy Crickets!
- For Pete’s Sake!
- For Heaven’s sake!
- For cryin’ out loud!
- Fiddlesticks!
- Great Scott!
- What the hey?
- Fudge nuggets!

Section 2 of 6:

Appropriate Alternatives for “F*cking”

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Use these sound-alike words to say something is “f*cking ____.” A lot of times, people say something is “f*cking amazing” or “f*cking cold” to mean very amazing or super cold. When you want to use the F-word to emphasize or amplify something else, try these safer alternatives instead:^{[2]
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- Flipping or flippin’
- Freaking or freakin’
- Effing or effin’
- Fricking or frickin’
- Farking or farkin’
- Fracking or frackin’
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Or, dig deep into your vocab for non-curse words that make your point. The English language is full of colorful words to describe just about anything! Try using a different descriptor from “f*cking” to emphasize your point and sound polite, professional, and distinguished. Using a more varied vocabulary can also make you sound more poetic, creative, or even intelligent (just be careful not to overuse big words, since it might make it sound like you’re trying too hard to “sound smart”).^{[3]
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- For example, instead of “It’s f*cking cold outside,” you could say “It’s bitter cold” or “It’s freezing.”
- Or, tell someone they look “stunning,” “gorgeous,” or “handsome” instead of “f*cking hot.”
- If you’re stumped for a good word, use an online thesaurus for help!

Section 3 of 6:

Appropriate Alternatives for “To F*ck” (“Have Sex”)

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Choose one of the many slang words or polite euphemisms for sex. It’s almost impossible to list all the creative words and phrases people say instead of “have sex.” Some are still kind of vulgar (although not as bad as “f*ck”) while others might sound downright silly (who can’t laugh at the phrase “make whoopie”?). Just remember that if you’re in a scenario where it’s not appropriate to say “f*ck” (like at school or work), chances are it might be risky to be talking about sex, too. Here are some other words to try:^{[4]
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- Slang for having sex:
  - Bang
  - Bonk
  - Shag
  - Screw
  - Do
  - Score
  - Lay
  - Schtupp
  - Roger
- Euphemisms for having sex:
  - Make love
  - Make whoopie
  - Get it on
  - Sleep with
  - Have physical relations
- Technical terms for having sex:
  - Fornicate
  - Copulate
  - Procreate
  - Have sexual intercourse

Section 4 of 6:

Alternatives for Common “F*ck” Phrases

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Use these delightful phrases in place of sayings like “Shut the f*ck up.” In everyday English, there are a few common phrases that have the F-word baked in. “F*ck” doesn’t have to be included in “Shut the f*ck up,” for example—you could just say “Shut up.” However, people seem to just like saying the full, expletive-filled expression! Here are some common expressions folks use to avoid saying “f*ck”:
- “Shut the front door” (“Shut the f*ck up”)
- “Nucking futs” (“F*cking nuts”)
- “Fustercluck” (“Clusterf*ck”)
- “Mothertrucker” (“Motherf*cker”)
- “What the cuss?” (“What the f*ck?”)

Section 5 of 6:

Appropriate Alternatives for “F*ck” Online

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Use a slang acronym or intentional misspelling to avoid writing “f*ck.” Ah, the Internet. While “f*ck” might be appropriate in a lot of online spaces, you may feel the need to censor yourself from time to time depending on who’s seeing your words. Here are some common slang and spelling ways to work around the F-word:
- WTF (“What the f*ck”)
- STFU (“Shut the f*ck up”)
- LMFAO (“Laughing my f*cking *ss off”)
- GTFO (“Get the f*ck out”)
- FU (“F*ck you”)
- FFS (“For f*ck’s sake”)
- Fux or fx
- Fk
- Fckn (“F*cking”)

Section 6 of 6:

Curse Words: Frequently Asked Questions

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Where did curse words come from? All languages have curse words, and most (if not all) curse words describe something taboo or unacceptable to talk about in a culture. These can include things like bodily functions (like “sh*tting” or “p*ssing”), sexual topics (“f*cking”), or even death and disease (in Dutch, there’s an extremely offensive curse word, Kankerlijer, which translates to “cancer-sufferer”).^{[5]
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- Religion also plays a role in determining curse words. “Profanity” comes from the Latin Profanus (“outside the temple”), so any religious terms used outside of a church context (like “goddamn,” “hell,” or even “Jesus Christ”) can be considered curse words.
- Derogatory slurs and insults aimed at groups of people are also curse words since they demean the folks they’re aimed at.
The F-word was first recorded in an English-language dictionary in 1598, but chances are the word had been in use before then. It’s believed to come from the Latin futuere and the Old German ficken or fucken, meaning “to strike or penetrate” (it’s easy to see how the word became slang for…you know).^{[6]
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How are people who swear frequently perceived? It completely depends on who’s hearing them, their relationship to the person swearing, and the context they’re speaking in. However, we can make a few generalizations. In most formal situations (like at school, work, special events, etc.), swearing is considered offensive and excessive swearing may make people see the speaker as being less agreeable or conscientious toward others. Some even view swearers as being less fair, competent, intelligent, or of lower social status.^{[7]
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- However, these are just generalizations! If you have a close and friendly relationship with your boss, for example, it might be totally fine to swear or drop an F-bomb occasionally.
- In casual scenarios, swearing can even show a level of comfort and familiarity between people since you’re not worried about censoring yourself around others.