Internal Debate: Slut vs. Whore

Though it had been my previous opinion that the word "slut" was slightly less vulgar than its half-synonym, "whore," I have now reversed that position.

Whore refers to someone who sells the use of his or her body -- or, metaphorically, skills or intelligence, etc. -- for money. Slut refers to a freely promiscuous woman.

Although a slut seems to have more personal power -- making it less a term of condescention or paternalism than whore -- since, in theory, she has made decisions leading to the labeling, I see no reason for a judgment of these decisions, and thus no reason for the word.

Furthermore, it is often if not almost always misapplied, stripping it of its implied freedom of choice.