euphemisms

plural of euphemism
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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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 euphemisms Tshabalala’s bluntness about the economic cost is the rare honest signal here; business will not be pacified by euphemisms. Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 July 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 Discussing why people use euphemisms online prepares children to pause and ask questions when unfamiliar terms appear. Sharlette A. Kellum, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026 When Oklahoma missed out on the NCAA Tournament, AD Roger Denny announced that coach Porter Moser was staying and offered up one of the great euphemisms of this era. Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026 Now there were no euphemisms for Germany’s leader. Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026 Some of the suspects try to minimize their actions with euphemisms or paraphrases; others do so with explanations that the prosecutors find utterly implausible. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemisms
Noun
  • Putnam sees the vessels as metaphors for the human body itself.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Each age sees metaphors of their own struggles in these ancient texts.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • Under the new law, manufacturers are required to use just two phrases.
    LeeAnn Weintraub, Oc Register, 25 July 2026
  • But what those phrases mean for monetary policy is more challenging than counting their usage.
    Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Arsenal have signed Spain goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez from Real Madrid following the expiration of her terms at the Liga F side.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Most of them are drafting these policies right now, quietly, with very little to go on, and the terms will be set by whoever shows up with a proposal first.
    Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Euphemisms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemisms. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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