Alternate words for “slut”

[TarnishedPenny]

A tramp is one who sleeps around. A slut is one who sleeps around with everybody but the speaker.

 

[Abbafan]

I don't agree that most of the proposed substitutes fulfill the function as well as "slut." Vixen? Seriously? Minx? Watered-down substitutes. And if one waters it down, one misses the whole point.

Words like vixen and minx have slightly different meanings than slut, I think. And after looking them up in dictionaries, I think I'm right. Like a minx can be bold and have a flirtatious sense of humor, but I don't think necessarily is promiscuous.

 

[SimonDoom]

Words like vixen and minx have slightly different meanings than slut, I think. And after looking them up in dictionaries, I think I'm right. Like a minx can be bold and have a flirtatious sense of humor, but I don't think necessarily is promiscuous.

Agreed. But another difference is that I never hear minx actually used. I see it in writing, but I cannot think of anyone in my life, male or female, actually using the word "minx." Whereas, I've heard "slut" used a lot, in different ways.

I agree with your interpretation of the word. That's the way I think of it, too. There's an element of slyness and mischievousness to it.

 

[Handley_Page]

On the assumption that "slut" is a derogatory term, I like the term 'bike'
(As in ridden by anyone).

 

[NotWise]

Agreed. But another difference is that I never hear minx actually used. I see it in writing, but I cannot think of anyone in my life, male or female, actually using the word "minx." Whereas, I've heard "slut" used a lot, in different ways.

I agree with your interpretation of the word. That's the way I think of it, too. There's an element of slyness and mischievousness to it.

I've never heard anyone use "minx." On the other hand, I never hear or read "slut" outside of the context of porn or erotica. It's not a word used by my friends or family, and I don't overhear it in public.

 

[desecration]

Tangentially related, but lots of possibilities in other languages and related terms.

 

[ScrappyPaperDoodler]

Thot and baddie are slut-adjacent millennial terms. There’s also 'thirst-trap', but that refers to a thing more than it does to a person.

If we’re looking for a term that’s designed to be derisive of someone who displays toxic sexual behaviour (not bog-standard ‘promiscuity'), I think 'pervert' works well. Sluts are cool, perverts drool!

(Yes, of course, perv or pervert can also be used in a way that’s non-derisive. Personally, I think anything can work as long as there’s understanding between the people using the terms.)

 

[SimonDoom]

I've never heard anyone use "minx." On the other hand, I never hear or read "slut" outside of the context of porn or erotica. It's not a word used by my friends or family, and I don't overhear it in public.

I have had relationships where I used the word to my partner and she used the word to describe herself. It was very much a matter of mutual consent, and the idea was that it made things naughtier and spicier. It worked in that regard; I think we both very much enjoyed it. But it clearly was a form of role play, because she was not, in fact, a slut in any way. It was just a way that we enjoyed spicing things up. When I think back on it, I don't think another word, other than perhaps "whore," would have filled in as well.

I should add that in most other relationships when I have suggested use of the word the suggestion was shut down fast and went nowhere, and the word was never used. As I've said before, everyone is different and differences must be respected.

 

[Crownvic]

Scuzoot..

 

[yowser]

I like the sibilant sound of 'slut' which sounds transgressive and spicy and naughty, although it is not a word that appears in any of my stories.

So how about 'siren'? (Slightly different connotation, but might work in some situations.)

Or 'sybarite' a lovely rolling-off-the-tongue word that is mightily uncommon and distinctive.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Or 'sybarite' a lovely rolling-off-the-tongue word that is mightily uncommon and distinctive.

Isn't that what almost kills Superman, but not quite?

 

[BiscuitHammer]

I'm perfectly happy to have characters in my stories use the word, especially when it's women referring to themselves or a another woman who is close to them, in which case it's treated as a term of endearment. Or it can be an exciting, naughty word between lovers in the throes of passion.

Lots of great alternatives available, of course, with the same connotation if not the same meaning: whore, strumpet, slattern, tramp, trull... sometimes even just using the equivalent word in another language can be refreshing.

What really irks me ( and my webmistress) is when readers leaving a review use the word 'slut' as a pejorative. "Girls who have sex with that many guys are sluts, they're terrible!" and so on. I find they very rarely make the same equation with men, so she tends to delete comments that are demeaning that way.

I'm somewhat tired. If I think of others, I'll post them here.