as in metaphor
a mild or pleasant word group of words that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive
using "eliminate" as a euphemism for "kill" She spoke in euphemisms when recounting the expletive-laden tirade.
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Recent Examples of euphemism
This kind of shifting of meaning was called the euphemism cycle by linguist Sharon Henderson Taylor in 1974, and later renamed the euphemism treadmill by psycholinguist Stephen Pinker in 1994.
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Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
But perhaps above all, the reforms were designed to give the government unfettered power to extend sovereignty—a euphemism for annexation—over the West Bank, a longtime goal of Israel’s far right.
—Dahlia Scheindlin, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2024
Horse manure containing alfalfa hay is an ideal medium for vermicomposting (vermis means worm in Latin), which yields worm castings (a euphemism for worm poop), the best soil amendment under the sun.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 30 Aug. 2024
One of the most amazing things about mentally dwelling in this 1930s farming community for an hour every week is its society’s insistence on euphemism and/or silent implication.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for euphemism 
Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
But perhaps above all, the reforms were designed to give the government unfettered power to extend sovereignty—a euphemism for annexation—over the West Bank, a longtime goal of Israel’s far right.
—Dahlia Scheindlin, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2024
Horse manure containing alfalfa hay is an ideal medium for vermicomposting (vermis means worm in Latin), which yields worm castings (a euphemism for worm poop), the best soil amendment under the sun.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 30 Aug. 2024
One of the most amazing things about mentally dwelling in this 1930s farming community for an hour every week is its society’s insistence on euphemism and/or silent implication.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
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There’s hardly any esoteric metaphors to be found in this far-reaching work.Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
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And if a metaphor that involves hot dog fingers and black-hole bagels doesn’t work for you, Magruder has another one.Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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To make each show feel unique for her fans, Olivia and her team collaborated to create a new, city-specific phrase for her final outfit of every tour stop.Kristen Wisneski, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024
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The phrase encapsulates the unwavering hope of the Cuban people that their decades-long nightmare under Fidel Castro (and now his successors) will one day end because darkness eventually always yields to light.Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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In simple terms, your kids are consuming too much junk food.Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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In the simplest terms, most AI content detectors work by analyzing content and attempting to spot patterns that suggest it may have been generated by AI.Bernard Marr, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Working across styles and idioms including classical, jazz, pop, R&B, and film scoring—and breaking ground for African American achievement in the entertainment industries—Jones has garnered the highest levels of critical and commercial acclaim.Jem Aswad, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
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The New York alto saxophonist, composer, vocalist and bandleader makes her Bay Area debut this weekend with a series of gigs, introducing a beguiling body of tunes shaped by her Chinese American heritage and deep engagement with various jazz, folk and pop idioms.Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near euphemism
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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