# Is the word "asshole" the strongest insult in English? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779 "2013-01-10T18:58:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/61 "2013-01-11T07:04:55Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Then there was the time in grade school where I called someone a dildo before I knew what the word meant. A teacher overheard me and went ballistic. I thought it just meant a silly person. It’s a silly word so that’s what it obviously meant, right? I did the exact same thing in high school. The _exact_ same thing. And I said it in front of a teacher too. I read the word “dildo” in a book somewhere, where it was used as an insult, but with no indication that it was a sex toy, or that it was that offensive. So one day I was in Mr. Smith’s art class talking to a friend about Mr. Jones, the other art teacher. No one liked Mr. Jones, and during the conversation I called him a dildo. Mr. Smith overheard me and said, “You’re right, but don’t use that word”. I went home, looked the word up, and considered myself very lucky that I wasn’t hauled off to the principal’s office. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/62 "2013-01-13T22:55:06Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Actually, it’s both. Mainly just to mess with their heads. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/63 "2013-01-13T23:16:32Z")
Well, you can get banned for calling somebody a troll… ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/64 "2013-01-13T23:48:33Z")
Asshole might be the strongest PC insult. Others open you up to accusations of homophobia or misogyny. Asshole is egalitarian. The fastest way to get into a fight with generic men would be to question their masculinity. “Fucking faggot” or “punk ass bitch” would be the best route. Not so bad on the internet though. “Sup fag” is a friendly greeting on 4chan. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/65 "2013-01-14T00:01:28Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Well, you can get banned for calling somebody a troll… Troll! _waiting for repurcussions_ ---
**Author:** ![keepingitreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cdc98d/32.png) [@keepingitreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keepingitreal)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/66 "2015-06-02T18:33:04Z")
Over here in Canada, the worst possible insult that you can call anyone is to call them a pedophile. There’s actually a term here, which is uniquely Canadian: “goof”. That term, in the U.S. and everywhere else, only means “a clumsy or silly person”. But in Canada, the term “goof” has evolved from prison jargon and specifically means a pedophile. Outside the prison culture, it’s a street term used mainly by the younger generation. calling anyone a “goof” in prison is fighting words, and might get you killed. It’s not a word to use lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/67 "2015-06-02T19:16:09Z")
I’m Canadian, and I have never heard the word goof used in such a context. Goof is about as inoffensive as jerk. But I’ve never been in prison. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/68 "2015-06-02T19:22:49Z")
You show up two years after everyone was done with this subject to talk about Canadian prison curses? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/69 "2015-06-02T20:02:11Z")
He’s just keepingitreal. ---
**Author:** ![keepingitreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cdc98d/32.png) [@keepingitreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keepingitreal)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/70 "2015-06-03T23:19:47Z")
LOL, I actually just joined this board, and that was my first post ever. Leaffan, you can check out this link: [Urban Dictionary: Goof](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=goof) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/71 "2015-06-03T23:37:20Z")
> [@keepingitreal](#): > > LOL, I actually just joined this board, and that was my first post ever. > > Leaffan, you can check out this link: [Urban Dictionary: Goof](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=goof) Wow. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/72 "2015-06-04T00:50:17Z")
Honestly, calling anyone a pedophile in America would be considered a pretty horrifying insult. We just don’t have a slang term for it, exactly; “pedo” is just short, “creeper” might be closest. That might be different in prison, though. I think there’s a critical difference between calling someone a pedophile vs asshole, though. One is an insult. The other is an accusation. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/73 "2015-06-04T06:40:26Z")
> [@GoodOmens](#): > > Honestly, calling anyone a pedophile in America would be considered a pretty horrifying insult. We just don’t have a slang term for it, exactly; “pedo” is just short, “creeper” might be closest. That might be different in prison, though. > > I think there’s a critical difference between calling someone a pedophile vs asshole, though. One is an insult. The other is an accusation. An Australian term for a pedophile that also started in prison is a “Rock Spider”, but similar it’s more of an accusation than an insult. We’re pretty casual about insults and not much will actually get people worked up, but depends on context. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/74 "2015-06-04T07:05:16Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > I think “Piece of Shit” is a much stronger insult than Asshole. Hey, if it wasn’t for assholes like me, pieces of shit like you wouldn’t be around. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/75 "2015-06-04T08:09:48Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > I was thinking, “cunt”, too. Can’t think of one that elicits more outrage. Except in England, according to my brit. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/76 "2015-06-04T08:23:16Z")
“Cunt” is a wonderful word in part because the sound of it is so striking. It meets the ears in such a powerful way just because of the sound of it. “Fuck” is like that too. Risky (risque?) poetry in a single syllable. Of course, when and how you employ these words is very important. As someone posted above, the word “cunt” can be deliciously erotic when used in the right time and place. But it’s such a powerful word that using it at an inappropriate time is more than deleterious. Same with fuck, but less so—at least in the States. I love powerfully effective words. Use them when it’s appropriate and you’re a champ. Use them when they’re not and you’re a pariah. “Cunt, CUNT!” “Fuck, FUUUUUCK!” Aha! Take that, you cunt fucks! 😛 . ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/77 "2015-06-04T09:25:10Z")
> [@BDBoop](#): > > Except in England, according to my brit. In certain circles in Scotland it is practically punctuation. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/78 "2015-06-04T10:14:34Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > In certain circles in Scotland it is practically punctuation. Should have seen the altercation that ensued the first time I was on the receiving end. We’ve been together for about eight months, so were reminiscing. He declared it’s practically a term of endearment! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/79 "2015-06-04T10:27:02Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > “Yo mama was a Swede” doesn’t seem like such a big deal to me. Obviosuly you’ve never been to Denmark. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-asshole-the-strongest-insult-in-english/646779/80 "2015-06-04T12:25:29Z")
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