Formal:
* Profanity: This is the most common and neutral term.
* Obscenity: Emphasizes the offensive nature of the language.
* Vulgarity: Focuses on the crudeness and lack of refinement.
* Swear words: Specific to words used to express anger or emphasis.
* Cursing: The act of using bad language.
Informal:
* Dirty words: Simple and straightforward.
* Four-letter words: Refers to words with a specific number of letters.
* Curse words: Similar to "swear words," but more informal.
* R-rated language: Used in the context of movies or media.
* Expletives: Formal, emphasizing the emotional nature of the language.
Euphemisms:
* Strong language: A polite way to avoid directly saying "bad language."
* Colorful language: Suggests the language is lively but inappropriate.
* Bad words: A simple and general term.
The best word to use depends on the context and your intended meaning.