What cuss words are allowed on TV?

Asked by: scraper  |  Last update: September 25, 2026
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What is allowed depends strictly on the channel type and time of day:

What curse words can't you say on TV?

The "seven dirty words" you cannot say on broadcast television (FCC-regulated channels) are shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits. These words are considered indecent and profane, especially between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m..

What are the rules for swearing on TV?

Federal law prohibits obscene, indecent and profane content from being broadcast on the radio or TV. That may seem clear enough, but determining what obscene, indecent and profane mean can be difficult, depending on who you talk to.

What are the 7 FCC banned words?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforces federal laws prohibiting the broadcast of obscene, indecent, and profane material. The concept of the "seven dirty words" was popularized by comedian George Carlin in his 1972 monologue "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television."

What words are banned from television?

The seven dirty words are seven English-language curse words that American comedian George Carlin first listed in his 1972 " Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television " monologue. The words, in the order Carlin listed them, are "shit", "piss", "fuck", "cunt", "cocksucker", "motherfucker", and "tits". Instagram new.

History of Swear Words | Official Trailer | Netflix

24 related questions found

Is cr * pa a swear word?

Yes, "crap" is widely considered a mild swear word or profanity. It is a socially acceptable, softened euphemism for stronger words like "shit", but it remains an informal and potentially rude term that should be avoided in formal or polite settings.

What TV show cusses the most?

The most heavily profanity-laden TV shows include critically acclaimed dramas, boundary-pushing comedies, and genre series that treat cursing as an art form.

What are the banned words list?

The term "banned word list" can refer to several different contexts. Depending on what you are looking for, these are the most common compilations:

Is the FCC allowed to censor?

Section 326 says nothing in the Communications Act "shall be understood or construed to give the Commission the power of censorship over the radio communications or signals transmitted by any [broadcast] station." It further prohibits the FCC from issuing rules or conditions that "shall interfere with the right of free ...

What is the FCC Rule 15?

FCC Part 15 is a federal regulation that sets limitations on the amount of electromagnetic interference allowed from digital and electronic devices as well as many types of unlicensed radios including those found in products such as medical devices, smart home equipment, multimedia products, and any other product that ...

Can you say Goddamn on TV?

Examples include "God damn" and "God damn you." Although not technically against the rules, these have been bleeped or dropped to silence for certain audiences; but not always- such as in the song “Mississippi, God Damn”- mostly, if the word isn't dropped, a warning is written into the rundown.

Can you swear on live TV after 9pm?

After 9pm, whether or not the broadcast of offensive language is justified will depend largely on the audience's expectations and the context – for example, the particular word in question and how offensive it is, how it is being used (descriptively, as an insult, aggressively, as vernacular), the nature of the content ...

Can you curse on CNN?

Broadcasting obscene content is prohibited by law at all times of the day. Indecent and profane content are prohibited on broadcast TV and radio between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience.

Does Netflix allow cursing?

Yes, there is profanity on Netflix. Many mature titles include strong language, though Netflix allows you to filter out these words or lock specific profiles to prevent children from accessing them.

Can you get in trouble for cursing on live TV?

It is not a crime or a criminal offense to swear on live TV, but it is a violation of federal regulations if it occurs on public broadcast networks. The government does not jail or criminally charge individuals for swearing, but networks can face severe fines from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

How to censor cuss words on TV?

TVGuardian is like a smart remote control for your TV that automatically mutes foul language! TVGuardian helps reinforce the values you're teaching. The TVGuardian monitors the hidden closed-captioning signal and compares those words to its database of offensive words and phrases.

What 7 words are not allowed on radio?

The "seven dirty words" are a list of profanities first popularized by comedian George Carlin in his 1972 routine Seven dirty words - Wikipedia.

Can I legally say whatever I want?

There is a misperception that our freedom of speech means you can say whatever you want without consequences—not true. The First Amendment protects us from the government, not from our employers or citizen to citizen. If you make derogatory comments, your company has every right to let you go.

Can the government censor TV?

Over-the-air broadcasts by local TV and radio stations are subject to certain speech restraints, but speech transmitted by cable or satellite TV systems generally is not. The FCC does not regulate online content. The FCC does impose certain restraints and obligations on broadcasters.

What are the banished words for 2026?

2026 Banished Words List

  • “There are six or seven reasons why this phrase needs to be stopped,” says Paul E. from WI. ...
  • Demure. “It's very said more than very done, and we're all very done hearing it!” remarks Tammy S. ...
  • Cooked. ...
  • Massive. ...
  • Incentivize. ...
  • Full Stop. ...
  • Perfect. ...
  • Gift/Gifted.

Are any words illegal to say?

In the US, no single word is strictly illegal to utter on its own. However, speech becomes illegal based entirely on context when it causes direct harm or violates specific laws.

What is banned from Google search?

While Google indexes billions of pages, it cannot search unindexed data, restricted sites, and real-time physical experiences. Additionally, searching for illicit activities (like making explosives), explicit gore, and highly personal data can compromise your digital privacy, trigger national security flags, or subject your accounts to invasive targeted advertising.

What actor has cussed the most?

According to a 2020 Buzz Bingo study analyzing over 3,500 film scripts, Jonah Hill holds the record for the most on-screen swear words, with 376. He surpassed Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio, largely due to his roles in profanity-heavy films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Superbad.

What is the darkest TV show of all time?

Some of the darkest TV shows of all time include HBO’s Chernobyl (relentless historical dread) and The Wire, Netflix's Mindhunter (harrowing serial killer profiling), AMC's Breaking Bad (moral decay), and Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (dystopian trauma). These series are universally recognized for their bleak, uncompromising atmospheres and psychological weight.

What Disney movie has cuss words?

Disney Movies with Profanity [1940 - 2013]

  • Iron Man 3. 2013. 2h 10m. PG-13 62Metascore. ...
  • Oz the Great and Powerful. 2013. 2h 10m. ...
  • The Odd Life of Timothy Green. 2012. 1h 45m. ...
  • The Avengers. 2012. 2h 23m. ...
  • John Carter. 2012. 2h 12m. ...
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. 2011. 2h 16m. ...
  • Secretariat. 2010. 2h 3m. ...
  • Tron: Legacy. 2010. 2h 5m.