slag

10 synonyms for slag, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Waste material left over after smelting ore.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

abuse burn

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

insult dis disrespect

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

dross scoria mullock clinker diss

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Waste material left over after smelting ore.

“Heaps of slag from the old ironworks still cover the hillside.”

dross scoria mullock clinker

2. verb

(British, informal) To criticise or mock someone harshly.

“The critics slagged off the film for its weak script.”

diss insult dis abuse burn disrespect

How to use slag

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

slag off slag heap

The "criticise" sense ("slag off") is informal British slang; the noun as a term for a person is vulgar and should be used with care.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German slagge, related to a Germanic root for "to strike" — originally referring to metal splinters knocked off during hammering.

Full origin of slag →

Frequently asked questions

What does “slag” mean?

The word “slag” means waste material left over after smelting ore. In plain terms, leftover waste from melting metal ore — or, informally in Britain, to badmouth someone.

How do you pronounce “slag”?

“Slag” is pronounced SLAG (/ˈslæɡ/ in IPA).

How do you use “slag” in a sentence?

Here is “slag” used in a sentence: “Heaps of slag from the old ironworks still cover the hillside.”

What part of speech is “slag”?

Depending on how it is used, “slag” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “slag” come from?

The word “slag” comes from Germanic. Borrowed from Middle Low German slagge, related to a Germanic root for "to strike" — originally referring to metal splinters knocked off during hammering.

Is “slag” a common word?

“Slag” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “slag” have?

“Slag” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: waste material left over after smelting ore.

People also searched

abuse burn insult dis disrespect diss scoria mullock clinker dross

Nearby words

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