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
Early critics have called it ‘compassionate,’ which might sound like a euphemism for treacly or didactic.
—
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 20 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
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
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 20 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
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
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
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Body language is a metaphor that has become a cliché, but anyone who has spent much time at all around other people understands that everyone speaks in a different dialect.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
-
This is a reminder that universalism, too, comes in many forms, spanning suffering as well as spirituality, materiality as well as metaphor.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Noun
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The phrase apparently traces its origins to a 2021 post in an online forum run by Chinese search giant Baidu.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
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Some fans even carry small black signs with the phrase emblazoned on it in white letters, which Barclays security guards quietly try to confiscate here and there.—
Yohana Desta,
Vanity Fair,
7 May 2026
Noun
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The painting may be the first appearance in art of the American doctrine of Manifest Destiny, a term coined the year before by the newspaperman and diplomat John O’Sullivan.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Giuliani floated the idea of changing the law to run for a third term or serving an extra three months to help with a post-9/11 recovery.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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