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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of euphemism
The title is a Scottish euphemism for Hell, but Mogwai have always favored purgatory.
—
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025
But an American Iron Dome has been understood by some as a euphemism for a more comprehensive, layered defense against countries like Russia, China or North Korea.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Angelou’s memoir was itself a part of the broader movement of women speaking publicly about parts of their lives that had so long been shrouded in euphemism, secrecy, and shame.
—TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
This is no euphemism, because in its most extreme forms, gender ideology is outright child abuse.
—Azhar Fateh, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025
But an American Iron Dome has been understood by some as a euphemism for a more comprehensive, layered defense against countries like Russia, China or North Korea.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Angelou’s memoir was itself a part of the broader movement of women speaking publicly about parts of their lives that had so long been shrouded in euphemism, secrecy, and shame.
—TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
This is no euphemism, because in its most extreme forms, gender ideology is outright child abuse.
—Azhar Fateh, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
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The island locale is integral to the collection, acting as a metaphor for luxury, isolation, and indulgence.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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With his calm demeanor and distinctive baritone, Biggie exhibited a rare talent for painting pictures with his bars, delivering a complex rhyme scheme of double entendres and metaphors that has kept him on the Mount Rushmore of rap for any true connoisseur of the genre.—
Shirley Halperin for The Hollywood Reporter,
Robb Report,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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So using Google Trends, Ayers and his colleagues looked at how often people in the U.S. were searching online using phrases such as gambling and addiction, addict, anonymous, or hotline.—
Simon Spichak,
Health,
1 Mar. 2025
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The video playfully imitates the exaggerated intonations and repetitive phrases often heard in an influencer's product placement videos.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Canucks need to suck up a bit of short term pain for long term gain.—
Thomas Drance,
The Athletic,
5 Mar. 2025
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The use of federal prisons to house detainees was what Trump also relied on in his first term in office.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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While often used sarcastically to mock true believers, the idiom reflects Italy’s enduring ambiguity toward Fascism, even 80 years after its fall.—
Mattia Ferraresi,
airmail.news,
1 Feb. 2025
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Knowing the correct four-word idioms is a sign of education.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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