(euphemistic) The word retard or retarded, regarded as a vulgar or taboo word.
I recently spoke supporting a new name for the President's Committee on Mental Retardation. I suggested it be changed to "President's Committee for People with Developmental Disabilities." 2003, James Meadours, “Tell the President Stop using that "R" word”, in Mouth, volume 14, number 3 (Sep/Oct 2003), page 34:
The latest battle over the R-word kicked into high gear with a Jan. 26 Wall Street Journal report that last summer White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel blasted liberal activists unhappy with the pace of health-care reform, deriding their strategies as "[expletive] retarded." 2010 February 14, Christopher M. Fairman, “Saying it is hurtful. Banning it is worse”, in The Washington Post, archived from the original on 24 Oct 2013:
The Tropic Thunder premiere presented a particularly strong opportunity for advocacy groups to make further progress on this front, because the R-word has played a major role in advance viral marketing for the prospective big-budget blockbuster.[…] 2008 August 13, “The r-word”, in National Post, Don Mills, Ontario, page A.12:
When people continue to use the 'R' word, it's hurtful," Seckler added. 2010 August 20, “Jennifer Aniston slammed for using 'retard' word in interview”, in Asian News International, New Delhi:
Throughout 2025, influential public figures like Rogan, Musk and Kanye West have used the r-word on platforms where millions can see and hear them. 2025 May 31, Scottie Andrew, “The ‘r-word’ is back. How a slur became renormalized”, in CNN, archived from the original on 20 Jul 2025:
(euphemistic) The word rape, regarded as a vulgar or taboo word.
You don't ask a victim 'How's it going?' and you don't use the R word with them. 2004 March 11, Eric Schmitt, “Army Retraining Soldiers to Meet Its Shifting Needs”, in The New York Times, page A22:
"Updike can use the `R' word" (rape, he meant) "to describe the love-making (sic) of the two Brazilians and get away with it." 1994 April 17, Harvey Porlock, “On the Critical List; Books”, in The Times, London (UK):
Of late though, the R-word has acquired a dark new meaning with guys leaping out of bushes onto hapless maidens. 2009 November 23, “The Indian rape trick”, in The Hindustan Times, New Delhi:
As the viewer of any after-school special can tell you, women shy away from the R word because they blame themselves. 2001, Noelle Howie, “By any other name”, in Ms, volume 11, number 2 (Feb/Mar 2001), pages 86—89:
(euphemistic) The word redskin or redskins (including Redskins as a team name) regarded as a vulgar or taboo word.
“The r-word is no more acceptable to American Indians than the n-word is to blacks,” one woman stated succinctly in a recent Post letter to the editor […] 2001, Bruce Stapleton, Redskins: Racial Slur Or Symbol of Success?, iUniverse, page 49:
It's better than the R word, huh? Redskin? Better than prairie nigger. That's a real beaut. It's even better than Native American. 2008, Kathleen Eagle, Mystic Horseman, page 272:
For years, Native American Indian groups and a wide variety of knee-jerk liberal sympathizers, including me, your humble scrivener, have pointed fingers of shame, shame, shame at the R-word team. 1992 September 23, Clarence Page, “Block that trademarked racial epithet”, in The Orlando Sentinel, page A9:
(humorous) Any word beginning with r that is considered (often humorously) to be taboo in the given context.
For his part, Mr. de Blasio will probably just keep using the R-word. ¶ “He seems to think the Republican brand is so damaged here in New York City that repeating that over and over is enough to prevent Lhota from picking up support,” Mr. Paulson said. 2013 October 22, Annie Correal, “New York Today: Round 2”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 24 Jun 2024:
The R word no doubt still sounds profane to Roger Federer, but I think I am speaking for most fans of the sport when I say: whenever the time does come for him to exit the stage, some serious advance notice would be appreciated. 2013 August 26, Harvey Araton, “Federer Deserves Ovation Tour, But Not Just Yet”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 09 Nov 2017:
In the second year of a three-year contract, Boggs will be 36 on June 15, but he's not ready to consider the R word—retirement. 1994 February 25, Charlie Nobles, “Polonia Gives Boggs a New Dimension”, in The New York Times, page B11:
Winter came early that year, and the animals began hearing a lot of "R" words they couldn't pronounce. Words like "recession," "redundancy" and "rationalization." 1996, Scott Bradfield, Animal Planet, quoted in NYT book review:
For investors, there are few things as scary as the “R” word. That’s because, historically, recessions have often wreaked havoc on stock portfolios. 2007 December 9, Paul J. Lim, “The ‘R’ Word Doesn’t Have to Be So Scary”, in The New York Times:
But never say never, friends make sure to add, knowing that Favre has tossed around the R-word frequently the last three seasons. 2009 February 12, Greg Bishop, “No Tears This Time: Jets quarterback cites biceps injury”, in The New York Times, page B13:
When he spoke last year at the convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Gov. David A. Paterson complained about being a victim of racism. He didn't actually use the r-word. 2009 July 14, Clyde Haberman, “Democracy in New York: An Accidental Governor? Try Government: NYC”, in The New York Times, page A23:
Neither Mayor David N. Dinkins nor Mr. Cuomo, though, has been reluctant to invoke the symbolism of another R-word: Republican. 1993, Sam Roberts, “Mayoral Campaign Tests The Loyalty of Democrats”, in The New York Times, page B2: