euphemism
noun
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Euphemism comes from Greek eúphēmos, which means "uttering sounds of good omen," "fair-sounding," or "auspicious." The first part of that root is the prefix eu-, meaning "good." The second part is phēmos, a Greek word for "speech."
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How and Why We Use Euphemisms
Euphemisms can take different forms, but they all involve substituting a word or phrase considered to be less offensive than another. The substituted word might, for example, be viewed as a less coarse choice, as when dang or darn is used instead of damn or damned. Or it might replace a word viewed as insulting to a religious figure, such as the various euphemisms for God (gad, gadzooks, gosh) or Jesus (gee, jeepers, jeez). A euphemism may also consist of an indirect softening phrase that is substituted for the straightforward naming of something unpalatable. Thus, we hear of people being “let go” rather than “fired”; civilians killed in war described as “collateral damage”; or someone who has died having “kicked the bucket,” “passed away, “given up the ghost,” or “joined one’s ancestors.”
Examples of euphemism in a Sentence
Kerry Gold, Vancouver Sun, 17 Feb. 2001
Spin is sometimes dismissed as a simple euphemism for lying. But it's actually something more insidious: indifference to the truth.
—Michael Kinsley, Time, 25 Dec. 2000–1 Jan. 2001
"Invigorating" is the euphemism we use most often to describe the chilly waters off the coast, but knowledgeable Maine boaters know where to find the warmer, tidal waters just right for a midsummer dip.
—Ken Textor, Down East, August 2001
If you are "let go," "separated," "terminated" or whatever euphemism the company uses for "clean-out-your-desk-and-be-gone," remember that you do have rights.
—Elsie Maclay, First for Women, July 1989
using “eliminate” as a euphemism for “kill”
Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 May 2025
The claim that euphemisms for death are somehow unique to Vietnamese culture is absurd in the extreme.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco have long received EU funds to ‘manage migration’ (a euphemism for preventing people from leaving their territories, often by force).
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Whenever a flock is infected they are culled — a euphemism for killed — in order to stop the spread of the virus.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euphemism. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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euphemism
noun
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