# \#regex

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/tag/regex/490.md

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## [How does discourse handle conflicting watched word actions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-does-discourse-handle-conflicting-watched-word-actions/406682)

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**Author:** [@m\_terenui](https://meta.discourse.org/u/m_terenui)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [July 2, 2026, 7:18pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-does-discourse-handle-conflicting-watched-word-actions/406682 "2026-07-02T19:18:31Z")

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Hi there! Good Afternoon, I am currently building my watched words list using regex per actions (e.g. flag, block, silence, approval, censor etc.) and was wondering what would happen if a same word belongs to multiple l…

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## [Using Regex with Watched Words](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-regex-with-watched-words/241861)

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**Author:** [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [June 14, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-regex-with-watched-words/241861 "2024-06-14T18:03:17Z")

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:bookmark: This topic explains how to effectively use regular expressions (regex) within Discourse’s Watched Words feature. :discourse: For sites on our hosting, these settings are hidden. Customers on paid hosting pla…

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## [Watched word regular expression crash (2025)](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watched-word-regular-expression-crash-2025/382417)

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**Author:** [@RGJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RGJ)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [October 6, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watched-word-regular-expression-crash-2025/382417 "2025-10-06T17:25:19Z")

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Similar to this one Repro watched words regular expressions enabled watched words tag action regular expression \*abc Result It is impossible to create topics or posts RegexpError (target of repeat operator is not spe…

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## [Can't enter watched words regex to catch phone numbers](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cant-enter-watched-words-regex-to-catch-phone-numbers/366534)

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**Author:** [@bartv](https://meta.discourse.org/u/bartv)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [May 17, 2025, 7:27am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cant-enter-watched-words-regex-to-catch-phone-numbers/366534 "2025-05-17T07:27:51Z")

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Hi! We’re experiencing a lot of spam that’s not caught by Akismet. The messages usually have (international) phone numbers in them which made us think of using a regex to catch them. After experimenting a bit we found …

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## [Where is the watched words regular expressions site setting?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-is-the-watched-words-regular-expressions-site-setting/275125)

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**Author:** [@Firepup650](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Firepup650)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [August 14, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-is-the-watched-words-regular-expressions-site-setting/275125 "2023-08-14T22:07:45Z")

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In reply to How to use Discourse regexes with watched words? - #9 by justin On the forum I help run, I can’t seem to get regex replaced properly. I can’t find the site setting that the post I linked mentioned, and it’s …