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 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
Consumer welfare is a bit of a red herring, but it’s often used as a euphemism for less enforcement rather than more enforcement.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
To say that wasn't a euphemism is crazy.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
How responsible a mother can be for her son’s actions remains an open question, but the contortions of her denial, with its euphemisms and its illogic, are closely and relentlessly examined, as is her inability to speak or act to stop him.
—Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 10 Aug. 2025
Consumer welfare is a bit of a red herring, but it’s often used as a euphemism for less enforcement rather than more enforcement.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
To say that wasn't a euphemism is crazy.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
How responsible a mother can be for her son’s actions remains an open question, but the contortions of her denial, with its euphemisms and its illogic, are closely and relentlessly examined, as is her inability to speak or act to stop him.
—Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
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The novella is a haunted house, dual point of view ride where the metaphors from the top down are consistently delivered.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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The metaphor for business organizations has long been the machine.—
Jana Werner,
Harvard Business Review,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But there's a strange intimacy to Talk to Me's premise, in which teens act tough by holding a mummified hand, declaring the titular phrase, and inviting one lucky spirit from the other side to inhabit their body.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Very famous phrase, George Washington.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That Xi did not meet Trump until this late in his term is also symbolic.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
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Woodward himself will be owed a buyout of more than $6 million, per the terms of his latest contract, unless the sides agree to a settlement.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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