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effing
01
used as a softened substitute for "fucking" to add emphasis or express irritation
Euphemistic
Informal
Vulgar
Grammatical Information
What is the origin of the word "effing" and how is it used?
Effing developed in mid-20th-century English as a softened substitute for the word "fucking." It's formed by spelling out the letter F, allowing speakers to add emphasis or show irritation without saying the full swear word. It's commonly used before nouns or adjectives (for example, "this effing thing") and is considered milder but still informal. People use it to sound frustrated or emphatic while avoiding stronger profanity.
Examples
Turn off that effing alarm.
