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
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
Most memorable in Monterey Pop is Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar ablaze (not a euphemism) and the Who smashing their instruments.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
Most memorable in Monterey Pop is Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar ablaze (not a euphemism) and the Who smashing their instruments.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
-
Although his metaphor is original, the underlying case is not.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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One of the prettiest moment’s in the play is when Liz offers to buy a round of drinks for her fellow passengers, a simple gesture that speaks to a bigger metaphor.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And the phrase, 'party people love to party' is certainly true at our events!—
Emily Strohm,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
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After the massive protests in Cuba on July 11, 2021, Wright and Millares created an installation on downtown Miami benches with phrases in support of political prisoners and with a code to add phone credit to cell phones on the island, aiming to help Cubans organize and document what was happening.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Jewish believers have had to come to terms with the inarguable truth that the story of the Hebrew enslavement, flight, and deliverance from Egypt is almost entirely mythical.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The breakdown in talks now putting the fragile temporary two-week truce agreed upon late Tuesday to the test, with differences in those agreed upon terms emerging throughout the week.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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