as in metaphors
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 euphemisms
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemisms
Noun
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Symbols and metaphors are the most astonishing of these scars.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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Bird and visitors are, for Urbano, ideal metaphors for the citizens of Utopia, a place beyond reach yet accessible through the uchronic resources of poetry and symbol.—
Javier Montes,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Without your seed phrases, that money is gone.—
Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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Although the wording included polite phrases, the anonymity left no room for conversation or compromise.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But past the bilateral relationship, China’s growing foothold as the world’s manufacturer also has more far-reaching consequences for Washington, analysts say, especially in terms of the US’ ability to detangle its strategic supply chains from China.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
15 Jan. 2026
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Principal analyst at Counterpoint Wei Sun Analysts say that despite those firms’ strong market performance, Huawei continues to dominate China’s AI processor market in terms of market share and breadth of offerings.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Euphemisms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemisms. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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