Engaging in prostitution, or metaphorically, selling oneself or one's principles for money or gain.
From Old English 'hore,' meaning 'prostitute,' which likely comes from Proto-Germanic. The term has been used derogatorily for over a thousand years. The metaphorical sense of 'selling out' one's principles emerged by the 1600s.
The double standard embedded in the word 'whoring' is stark—the term is almost exclusively used to shame women, even though throughout history men have sold their bodies, talents, and principles for money just as much. Ancient Greek philosophers wrestled with this morally, and today the word reveals more about our biases than about actual human behavior across gender lines.
Whoring as a metaphorical insult (e.g., 'betraying principles') overwhelmingly targets women and conflates female sexuality with dishonesty and corruption. The slur perpetuates the Madonna-whore dichotomy and punishes women for sexual autonomy.
If discussing sex work itself, use 'sex work' or 'sex worker' with neutral language. For metaphorical use (selling out principles), replace entirely to avoid gendered slur coding.
["selling out","compromising","betraying","prostituting (principles)"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.