euphemism

Definition of euphemismnext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of euphemism The Execution Crisis Defined Rasmus Holst, CEO of Zensai, describes it without euphemism. Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 9 June 2026 Willmett and Harris are clearly uninterested in euphemisms, so there’s an exaggerated naivety to their lyrics. Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026 The most expensive queries are throttled or downgraded, which is usually a euphemism for a degraded user experience. Ben Gutkovich, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 Later, in a moment of high anxiety when Rafael is catching a beating, Sebastián will run to the bathroom to play his trumpet (not just a euphemism). Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
  • Ambiguity, subtext, double meanings, and metaphor course through all of them.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Ballmer once bragged about how many toilets are in the Intuit Dome, and that feels like a metaphor for the state of his Clippers.
    Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Song lyrics, phrases, and stray words bob in and out like visitors stopping by for a last laugh or scare.
    Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The lyrics coalesced slowly, with McCartney filling the incomplete sections with nonsense phrases.
    Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This government backing allows some borrowers to get better loan terms compared to traditional mortgages, including more flexible credit minimums and lower down payment requirements.
    Dan Simms, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Trump is constitutionally barred from running for a third presidential term.
    Josh Boak, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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