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
And even ages 8 to 10 should be OK, depending on your thoughts about PG romantic intimacy and use of clever euphemisms.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Sometimes, this stems from their opinion that the supposedly tactful replacements for the R-word are equally if not more offensive — a classic example of the euphemism treadmill in practice.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
And now Netanyahu announces a military takeover of Gaza City… which most informed commentators understand as a euphemism for the colonization of Gaza.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 10 Aug. 2025
To say that wasn't a euphemism is crazy.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Sometimes, this stems from their opinion that the supposedly tactful replacements for the R-word are equally if not more offensive — a classic example of the euphemism treadmill in practice.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
And now Netanyahu announces a military takeover of Gaza City… which most informed commentators understand as a euphemism for the colonization of Gaza.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 10 Aug. 2025
To say that wasn't a euphemism is crazy.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
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Yet the American Dream is a powerful metaphor and aspiration that continues to inspire many in this country.—
Mark Robert Rank,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
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Swift has long been drawn to the beauty and metaphor of its namesake stone.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But conversely, O’Hara, who died late last week at 71, could make a ho-hum phrase utterly hilarious.—
Jocelyn Noveck,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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That phrase will take on new meaning this July as Disneyland announced its famed ghostly estate will become available for weddings for the first time.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Within this context, the central flaw of the quota/preference (DEI) supporters has always been their misguided definition of justice in terms of group outcomes, rather than individual cases.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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In Gallup’s roughly 80 years of polling, Trump’s approval toward the end of his first calendar year in office (36%) was lower than any other incoming president at the same point in time (only matched by Trump himself in his first term).—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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