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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
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
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
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
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Netflix’s refugee thriller His House and Jordan Peele’s Lovecraft Country showed early signs of her penchant for horror as a metaphor for racial oppression.—
Kemi Alemoru,
Glamour,
14 Mar. 2026
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There are metaphors aplenty to interpret in a thriller about a town that goes bonkers when 17 kids go missing in the middle of the night and everybody points to their teacher (Julia Garner).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That is also, to use Powell’s phrase, a balance, but not a really comfortable one.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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Most parents are familiar with the phrase.—
Stephen Chen,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Set fair terms and document decisions, and avoid dramatic ultimatums.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
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The March 17 election includes primary races for Illinois’ secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer — and while all those positions are held by incumbent Democrats who are running for new terms with no primary challengers, Republicans are duking it out in one of the contests.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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