whore
whore — noun
1. a woman who is paid for sexual acts — the original meaning of the word, now rega
a woman who is paid for sexual acts — the original meaning of the word, now regarded as insulting and degrading in almost any use
A historical novel opens with a young woman forced to be a whore in London.
historical context for literal meaning
Calling a woman in the sex trade a "whore" is deeply insulting and outdated.
register note: offensive term
The charity provides housing and medical care for women who have left work as whores.
Witnesses confirmed the women had been forced to be whores against their will.
- prostitute
the standard neutral term for someone who performs sexual acts for payment; less offensive than 'whore' but still carries stigma
- sex worker
the modern respectful term that emphasizes the person's profession rather than their morality
- call girl
a prostitute who arranges meetings by phone; implies higher status and better working conditions than a street sex worker
- hooker
an informal and somewhat dated slang term; less harsh than 'whore' but still not polite
用法筆記
Even when used in its literal sense of a sex worker, this word is now widely considered offensive. The preferred modern terms are 'sex worker' or 'prostitute' (though 'prostitute' itself can carry stigma). Use with caution in any context.
常見錯誤
2. a deeply insulting label for any woman viewed as having many sexual partners, us
a deeply insulting label for any woman viewed as having many sexual partners, used purely to shame or attack her
The schoolboys called Madison a whore because she had dated two people in a year.
used as an insult based on relationship history
Calling a woman a whore to silence her views on relationships is verbal abuse.
The celebrity spoke out against strangers who call women whores on social media platforms.
Nala was hurt when a friend called her a whore in front of the class.
The documentary shows how men use "whore" to control women's sexual freedom.
用法筆記
This is one of the most offensive insults that can be directed at a woman. It is used to enforce social norms about female sexuality and is never acceptable in polite conversation. Even repeating it in a quotation can cause harm.
常見錯誤
whore — verb
1. to have sex as a prostitute, or to force someone to do this for money — now rega
to have sex as a prostitute, or to force someone to do this for money — now regarded as offensive in both uses
Criminal gangs force homeless teenagers to whore in hotels across the city.
transitive: force into prostitution
After losing her job, Naoko faced whoring herself on the streets to survive.
reflexive: whoring herself
The police arrested a man who had whored young women for his network's profit.
Poverty pushed women in the port city to whore for foreign sailors.
- prostitute oneself
the standard formal verb phrase; still carries stigma but is less offensive than 'whore oneself'
- sell one's body
an informal but less offensive way to describe exchanging sex for money
- traffic (someone)
used when describing forced prostitution; focuses on the criminal act rather than the person
文法句型
whore (intransitive)
whore + oneself (reflexive)
whore + someone (transitive: force into sex work)
用法筆記
The reflexive construction ('whore oneself') is the most common grammatical pattern for the intransitive meaning. The transitive use (forcing someone else) is also attested but very rare. In both cases, the word is offensive and alternatives such as 'work as a sex worker' or 'force into prostitution' are strongly preferred.
常見錯誤
2. to lower your moral standards or give up your values in order to gain money, suc
to lower your moral standards or give up your values in order to gain money, success, or approval from others
The journalist refused to whore himself by twisting the truth for the publisher.
reflexive: whore himself
Critics said the painter had whored her talent by making cheap tourist art.
whore + talent as object
Pedro accused the senator of whoring his principles when he accepted money from drug companies.
Arjun refused to whore his beliefs for a promotion at the company.
Some bands accuse pop stars of whoring their musical style to sell records.
- sell out
the most common informal alternative; less vivid but also less offensive than 'whore oneself'
- prostitute oneself
a more formal figurative expression with the same meaning; 'prostitute' is less harsh than 'whore'
- compromise one's principles
a neutral, non-metaphorical way to express the same idea without offensive language
- stand by one's principles
to refuse to compromise despite pressure or temptation
- maintain one's integrity
to keep moral values intact rather than sacrificing them for gain
文法句型
whore + oneself (reflexive)
whore + noun (talent/principles/beliefs)
用法筆記
This is a figurative extension of the literal verb sense. It is almost always used as a reflexive (whore oneself) or with an abstract object like 'talent,' 'principles,' or 'integrity.' Unlike the literal senses, this usage is not considered a slur, though it remains informal and carries strong disapproval.
常見錯誤
3. to lead someone into having sex outside of marriage, often by dishonest means su
to lead someone into having sex outside of marriage, often by dishonest means such as lying or making false promises — a very old-fashioned use
A nobleman tried to whore a farmer's daughter with false marriage promises.
archaic literary context
Men were sometimes charged with whoring young servants in their homes.
The bishop condemned the merchants who whored village girls with gifts and then abandoned them.
Shakespeare uses "whore" to mean seducing a woman through deception.
文法句型
whore + someone
用法筆記
This sense is now very old-fashioned and rarely encountered outside historical literature, religious texts, and legal records from earlier centuries. Modern readers may find it confusing or may mistake it for the literal verb sense (verb/1). It nearly always takes a female object and carries the implication of deception or abuse of power.