as in metaphors
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 euphemisms
Discussing why people use euphemisms online prepares children to pause and ask questions when unfamiliar terms appear.
—
Sharlette A. Kellum, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026
When Oklahoma missed out on the NCAA Tournament, AD Roger Denny announced that coach Porter Moser was staying and offered up one of the great euphemisms of this era.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Now there were no euphemisms for Germany’s leader.
—Literary Hub, 27 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
In a year of cancellations and euphemisms, the city mounted a counterprogram that was quietly insurrectionary, stubbornly joyous.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
And even ages 8 to 10 should be OK, depending on your thoughts about PG romantic intimacy and use of clever euphemisms.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Sharlette A. Kellum, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026
When Oklahoma missed out on the NCAA Tournament, AD Roger Denny announced that coach Porter Moser was staying and offered up one of the great euphemisms of this era.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Now there were no euphemisms for Germany’s leader.
—Literary Hub, 27 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
In a year of cancellations and euphemisms, the city mounted a counterprogram that was quietly insurrectionary, stubbornly joyous.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
And even ages 8 to 10 should be OK, depending on your thoughts about PG romantic intimacy and use of clever euphemisms.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemisms
Noun
-
The uniqueness is his metaphors.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Green’s list of eerie parallels included two swimming-pool metaphors and a climactic injury in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and two strikes.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This doesn’t mean that unique phrases can be stolen with impunity, or even that people shouldn’t feel morally obligated to acknowledge the sources of their inspiration.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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The key is knowing how to read — or listen — between the lines and recognizing that phrases that sound nice and innocent, even kind, are not that at all.—
Kathy and Ross Petrass,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the 2025 didn’t unfold the way Derrick Hall expected, at least in terms of his individual stats at first.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In terms of lost instructional days Little Lake ranks high.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Euphemisms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemisms. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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