asshole

IPA/ˈæshəʊl/
KK[ˈæshol]IPA/ˈæshəʊl/

asshole — noun

  • assholesingular
  • assholesplural

1. a rude, very offensive word for someone you think is being mean, foolish, or ann

1.noun
Definition

a rude, very offensive word for someone you think is being mean, foolish, or annoying.

Example

Rashida called the driver an asshole for cutting in front of the school bus.

call someone an asshole — direct insult use

Don't be such an asshole to your little sister, Tom; he's only seven.

'be (such) an asshole' — telling someone off

Common collocations
  • call someone an asshole
  • be such an asshole
  • some asshole
  • feel like an asshole
  • complete asshole
  • total asshole
Synonyms
  • jerk

    milder, widely accepted in casual speech

  • prick

    also vulgar; suggests arrogance and meanness

  • bastard

    vulgar; often implies cruelty rather than stupidity

Antonyms

Usage Note

Highly offensive in all English-speaking countries; avoid in workplace, school, or polite settings. Typical patterns: 'be an asshole', 'such an asshole', 'some asshole'. Stronger and ruder than jerk or idiot.

Common Mistakes

My boss is a asshole.
My boss is an asshole.
use 'an' before a vowel sound.
He behaved assholely.
He behaved like an asshole.
there is no adverb form.

2. a very rude word for the opening at the end of the digestive tube, through which

2.noun
Definition

a very rude word for the opening at the end of the digestive tube, through which solid waste leaves the body.

Example

The doctor asked her to use the proper word 'anus' rather than asshole on the medical form.

register contrast with the medical term 'anus'

Rohan felt a sharp pain in his asshole and worried it might be a hemorrhoid.

informal reference to the body part

Common collocations
  • pain in the asshole (literal)
  • tear someone a new asshole (idiom-like)
Synonyms
  • anus

    neutral medical term; safe in any setting

  • arsehole

    British spelling; same vulgar register

  • butthole

    childish or jokey; less harsh than asshole

Usage Note

Use the medical term 'anus' in any clinical, educational, or polite setting. This sense is common in crude humor and rough speech but never appropriate in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

The doctor checked my asshole.' (in a formal medical context)
The doctor checked my anus.
choose the clinical term when speaking with healthcare staff.
asshole pain' on a hospital form
anal pain
medical adjective is 'anal', not derived from this word.
Idioms

tear someone a new asshole

idiom

to scold or criticize someone very harshly, often loudly and in front of others.

When the team missed the deadline, the project manager tore them a new asshole in the meeting.

asshole of the world

idiom

a place that someone considers extremely unpleasant, isolated, or backward.

After two winters at the remote outpost, the soldiers called the place the asshole of the world.

Word family

  • assholery
    noun
  • arsehole
    noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words label a person you dislike, but the register and target differ sharply. 'Idiot' is the mildest and is mostly about stupidity, not character — you can call a friend an idiot affectionately. 'Jerk' is informal but not taboo; it focuses on rude or selfish behavior and is safe in most casual conversation. 'Asshole' is vulgar and much harsher: it accuses someone of being deliberately mean or hurtful, not just clumsy. 'Prick' is also vulgar and similar in strength, but adds a flavor of arrogance, especially in British English. 'Bastard' is vulgar too, and often suggests cruelty or unfair treatment ('the bastard fired her on her birthday'). Compare: 'You idiot, you locked the keys in the car' (light), 'What a jerk' (everyday), 'He's a complete asshole to the waiters' (strong, taboo).

asshole ↗jerk ↗prick ↗bastard ↗idiot ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • asshole behavior
  • asshole move
  • asshole boss
  • asshole neighbor

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be an asshole
  • act like an asshole
  • such an asshole
  • some asshole
  • feel like an asshole

Prepositions

  • to (someone)
  • about (something)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Formed in English by joining 'arse' or 'ass' (the buttocks) with 'hole'. The literal body-part meaning came first, recorded from around the 14th century in older spellings such as 'arce-hoole'. The insulting use for a person, calling them as worthless or contemptible as that body part, became common in American English during the 20th century, especially in soldier slang during and after World War II. The 'ass' spelling is American; British and Australian English keep 'arsehole'.