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Definition of asshole

asshole

/ˈæsˌhoʊl/
(UK: arsehole)
ass · hole

Plural:assholes
•
Adjective:assholish
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asshole Lexical Profile

asshole Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American (vulgar, slang, derogatory) An irritating, obnoxious, arrogant, or contemptible person.

Example

"The driver who cut across three lanes of traffic without signaling was acting like a complete asshole."


2

North American (vulgar, slang) The anus.

Example

"The patient used crude slang rather than clinical terminology when describing the pain to the physician."


3

North American (vulgar, slang) The most wretched, undesirable, or desolate part of a place or region.

Example

"After spending six months stationed at a remote outpost in the middle of the desert, the crew referred to the base as the asshole of nowhere."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for asshole

Word Nuance & Usage

Primarily used in North American English (corresponding to 'arsehole' in British and Commonwealth English), this term is considered vulgar and taboo in formal or polite settings.

Word Origin & Etymology

Attested from the 14th century in Middle English as 'ershole' or 'arsehole' (combining Old English 'ears' and 'hol'), with the r-less pronunciation and spelling 'asshole' becoming standard in North American English by the 19th and 20th centuries.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Asshole. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/asshole
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