euphemism
noun
the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.
euphemisms
-
pluralof euphemism.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
House Speaker Mike Johnson could win an award for military euphemisms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
In fact, we had a whole vocabulary of different words and euphemisms we could use so as not to think too deeply about the unthinkable or our possible role in making it happen.
From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2025
They use euphemisms online to communicate the things they are not supposed to mention.
From New York Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
What first clued me in to the remarkable frequency with which complaints about men’s cleanliness appear on Reddit was repeatedly encountering one of the most awfully evocative euphemisms in the English language: skid mark.
From Slate ● May 17, 2024
I could offer to draw the curtains but I know she’s speaking in euphemisms; no amount of drawn curtains could make my room presentable for the subscribers to Bell System.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
