euphemism

eu·phe·mism  (yf-mzm)

n.

The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive: "Euphemisms such as 'slumber room' . . . abound in the funeral business" (Jessica Mitford).

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[Greek euphmismos, from euphmizein, to use auspicious words, from euphmi, use of auspicious words : eu-, eu- + phm, speech; see bh-² in Indo-European roots.]

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euphe·mist n.

euphe·mistic (-mstk) adj.

euphe·misti·cal·ly adv.

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euphemism

Noun

an inoffensive word or phrase substituted for one considered offensive or upsetting, such as departed for dead [Greek eu- well + phēmē speech]

euphemistic adj
euphemistically adv

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euphemism

1. the deliberate or polite use of a pleasant or neutral word or expression to avoid the emotional implications of a plain term, as passed over for died.
2. an instance of such use. Cf. dysphemism, genteelism. — euphemist, n. — euphemistic, euphemistical, euphemious, adj.

See also: Language

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

euphemism - an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh neutralisation, neutralization - (euphemism) the removal of a threat by killing or destroying it (especially in a covert operation or military operation) locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression" exit, expiration, going, passing, departure, release, loss - euphemistic expressions for death; "thousands mourned his passing" collateral damage - (euphemism) inadvertent casualties and destruction inflicted on civilians in the course of military operations sanitation department - the department of local government responsible for collecting and disposing of garbage bowel movement, bm, movement - a euphemism for defecation; "he had a bowel movement" making water, passing water, wetting, leak - a euphemism for urination; "he had to take a leak" 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"

Translations

euphemism [ˈjuːfəmɪzm] n → eufemismo

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euphemism [ˈjuːfəmɪzəm] n → euphémisme m

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euphemism [ˈjuːfəmɪzəm] n → Euphemismus m

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euphemism [ˈjuːfəmɪzəm] n → eufemismo

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euphemism

n euphemism [ˈjuːfəmizəm]

a pleasant name for something that is unpleasant Pass on' is a euphemism for `die'. eufemisme تَلْطيف الكَلام евфимизъм eufemismus eufemisme der Euphemismus ευφημισμός eufemismo eufemism حسن تعبیر eufemismi, kiertoilmaus euphémisme לָשוֹן נְקִייָה मंगलभाषी, कठोर शब्दों के स्थान पर मधुर शब्दों का प्रयोग eufemizam, blaži izraz za nešto negativno eufemizmus penghalus skrauthvörf; veigrunarorð; fegrunarheiti eufemismo えん曲語法 완곡적인 말 eufemizmas eifēmisms perkataan berlapik eufemisme forskjønnende uttrykk, eufemisme eufemizm eufemismo eufemism эвфемизм eufemizmus evfemizem eufemizam eufemism ศัพท์หรือภาษาที่นุ่มนวล örtmece, kibar deyim 委婉語 евфемізм ملائم پیرایے میں کی جانے والی ناخوشگوار بات uyển ngữ 委婉语

adj eupheˈmistic

eufemisties تَلْطيفي евфиместичен eufemistický eufemistisk beschönigend ευφημιστικός eufemístico eufemistlik وابسته به حسن تعبیر eufemistinen euphémique מְעוּדָן कठोर शब्दों के स्थान पर मधुर शब्द eufemistički eufemisztikus menghaluskan skrauthverfur; veigrunar-; fegrandi eufemistico えん曲的な 완곡 어법의 eufemistinis eifēmisks lapik eufemistisch forskjønnende eufemistyczny eufemístico eufemistic эвфемистический eufemistický evfemističen eufemistički eufemistisk เกี่ยวกับคำนุ่มนวล örtmeceli, kibar 委婉的 евфемістичний پر تپاک پیرائہ اظہار thuộc uyển ngữ 委婉的