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dysphemism

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dysphemism
1. a deliberate substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging word for an otherwise inoffensive term, as pig for policeman.
2. an instance of such substitution. Cf. euphemism.
See also: Language
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.dysphemism - an offensive or disparaging expression that is substituted for an inoffensive one; "his favorite dysphemism was to ask for axle grease when he wanted butter"
jalopy, heap, bus - a car that is old and unreliable; "the fenders had fallen off that old bus"
locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"
old man - an informal term for your father
euphemism - an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh


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Career politicians use this dysphemism for a reason: You might vote for higher taxes to solve an ``affordable housing'' crisis, but you would never knowingly raise your own taxes so someone with a higher income can spend a smaller percentage of it on housing.
HOUSING BOND TAKES FROM POOR by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
These were small disappointments compared to the terrific things I did discover, rather serendipitously, like the article by Marvin Pope on euphemism and dysphemism in the Bible (there are plenty of both) with a concluding section on sanitizing strategies used over the centuries on biblical language.
The Anchor Bible Dictionary by Cunningham, Lawrence S. / Commonweal
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