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View synonyms for euphemism

euphemism

[ yoo-fuh-miz-uhm ]

noun

  1. the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.
  2. the expression so substituted:

    “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.”



euphemism

/ ˈjuːfɪˌmɪzəm /

noun

  1. an inoffensive word or phrase substituted for one considered offensive or hurtful, esp one concerned with religion, sex, death, or excreta. Examples of euphemisms are sleep with for have sexual intercourse with; departed for dead; relieve oneself for urinate
  2. the use of such inoffensive words or phrases
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


euphemism

  1. An agreeable word or expression substituted for one that is potentially offensive, often having to do with bodily functions, sex, or death; for example, rest room for toilet , lady of the evening for prostitute . The Nazis used euphemism in referring to their plan to murder the world's Jews (see also Jews ) as “the Final Solution .”


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Derived Forms

  • ˌeupheˈmistic, adjective
  • ˌeupheˈmistically, adverb
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Other Words From

  • euphe·mist noun
  • euphe·mistic euphe·misti·cal eu·phe·mi·ous [yoo-, fee, -mee-, uh, s], adjective
  • euphe·misti·cal·ly eu·phemi·ous·ly adverb
  • uneu·phe·mistic adjective
  • uneu·phe·misti·cal adjective
  • uneu·phe·misti·cal·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of euphemism1

First recorded in 1650–60; from Greek euphēmismós “use of words of good omen,” from eu- eu- + phḗm(ē) “speaking, fame” + -ismos -ism
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Word History and Origins

Origin of euphemism1

C17: from Greek euphēmismos, from eu- + phēmē speech
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Example Sentences

In 1924, a local meteorologist published a pamphlet titled “In the Zone of Filtered Sunshine” that touted the city’s “sunbreaks” — a euphemism for incessantly cloudy conditions — that helped keep summers cool and pleasant.

You proposed to give us “some time,” a “pause” in our sweet courtship of almost two years, but I know well that this is the most common euphemism for not hurting the other person too much when you want to end a love relationship.

People refer to its euphemism “accelerator” or “scientific internet surfing tool” otherwise.

It’s the height of brand-as-euphemism—less about aspiration than sneaking unglamorous ideas into consumers’ heads with a friendly, accessible gloss.

The dialogue in Made for Love is great—funny, distinctive and observant about the way tech euphemisms can invade the physical world and change the way we think.

From Time

The euphemism most commonly used by convicts for dying is to “be taken off the count.”

The euphemism of “collateral damage” comes with that package.

Another week, another botched killing under the legal euphemism of capital punishment.

A commonly-used euphemism for this phenomenon is that the technology “is not yet mature.”

Babylon could be a euphemism for Rome or it could just be a metaphor for imagined exile.

As there are many Corsican policemen on the Continent they use this euphemism to designate the ignoble calling they follow.

He reported having received information that Rosecrans was being reënforced, but in this again he may be suspected of a euphemism.

For market competition (as already quoted) "is a euphemism for railroad policy."

She used terms regarding cathedrals and pictures for which boredom is the mildly polite euphemism.

The suggestion of smallpox appears to be the same euphemism which was resorted to in the cases of other exalted personages.

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