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
Most memorable in Monterey Pop is Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar ablaze (not a euphemism) and the Who smashing their instruments.
—
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
The gloves are off, the language is blunter, and the patience for euphemism is gone.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Everything else is a euphemism for old fashioned domination that the region has spent generations trying to escape.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
In a year of cancellations and euphemisms, the city mounted a counterprogram that was quietly insurrectionary, stubbornly joyous.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
The gloves are off, the language is blunter, and the patience for euphemism is gone.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Everything else is a euphemism for old fashioned domination that the region has spent generations trying to escape.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
In a year of cancellations and euphemisms, the city mounted a counterprogram that was quietly insurrectionary, stubbornly joyous.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
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In 1946, the organization renamed itself as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to reflect the increasingly global aspects of the organization, and in 1947, the Bulletin introduced the Doomsday Clock as a metaphor for how close civilization is to bringing about its own destruction.—
Daniel Holz,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
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Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Certain truths are best expressed in metaphor or art at present.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And the phrase, 'party people love to party' is certainly true at our events!—
Emily Strohm,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
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After the massive protests in Cuba on July 11, 2021, Wright and Millares created an installation on downtown Miami benches with phrases in support of political prisoners and with a code to add phone credit to cell phones on the island, aiming to help Cubans organize and document what was happening.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The top 10 current contracts in terms of average per year (APY) all belong to men who play that position.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Even if the Iran war wraps up in the next few days, and energy prices eventually come back down, the damage has already been done in terms of fertilizer supply chains and their components’ prices.—
E.J. Antoni,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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