Euphemism
noun
A mild or gentle word or phrase that is used instead of one with a negative or hurtful meaning.
"Pass away" is a euphemism for "die".
Often appears as...
- use a euphemism
- political euphemism
noun
A word or phrase that is used to make an unpleasant reality seem nicer or less harsh.
"Economically disadvantaged" is a euphemism for "poor".
Often appears as...
- euphemism for
- invent a euphemism
noun
A mild or gentle word or phrase that is used instead of one with a negative or hurtful meaning.
"Pass away" is a euphemism for "die".
Often appears as...
- use a euphemism
- political euphemism
noun
A word or phrase that is used to make an unpleasant reality seem nicer or less harsh.
"Economically disadvantaged" is a euphemism for "poor".
Often appears as...
- euphemism for
- invent a euphemism
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Euphemisms are often culturally specific, be aware of local nuances.
In some cultures, 'passed on' is a preferred euphemism for 'died'.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoiding Offense
Use euphemisms to sound polite and avoid offending others.
He uses 'let go' instead of 'fired' to avoid hurting feelings.
Pro Tip 3/3Softening Statements
Euphemisms soften the impact of blunt or direct language.
Saying 'between jobs' instead of 'unemployed' feels less blunt.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Euphemisms are often culturally specific, be aware of local nuances.
In some cultures, 'passed on' is a preferred euphemism for 'died'.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoiding Offense
Use euphemisms to sound polite and avoid offending others.
He uses 'let go' instead of 'fired' to avoid hurting feelings.
Pro Tip 3/3Softening Statements
Euphemisms soften the impact of blunt or direct language.
Saying 'between jobs' instead of 'unemployed' feels less blunt.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Euphemisms are often culturally specific, be aware of local nuances.
In some cultures, 'passed on' is a preferred euphemism for 'died'.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoiding Offense
Use euphemisms to sound polite and avoid offending others.
He uses 'let go' instead of 'fired' to avoid hurting feelings.
Pro Tip 3/3Softening Statements
Euphemisms soften the impact of blunt or direct language.
Saying 'between jobs' instead of 'unemployed' feels less blunt.
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Video examples
The psychology of evil PIPE...
and they're getting no information about the insurgency. So they're going to put pressure on these soldiers, military police, to cross the line, give them permission to break the will of the enemy, to prepare them for interrogation, to soften them up, to take the gloves off. Those are the euphemisms, and this is how it was interpreted.
Video examples
What doctors don't know...
This is a drug called Tamiflu. Tamiflu is a drug which governments around the world have spent billions and billions of dollars on stockpiling, and we've stockpiled Tamiflu in panic, in the belief that it will reduce the rate of complications of influenza. Complications is a medical euphemism for pneumonia
Video examples
Jason De León: Decoding...
is euphemism for smuggler so this town basically just revolves around smuggling and everybody knows it migrants go there they prepare themselves they hop on a bus drive down to the border and then walk into the desert if you go to the vendors in al thar they specialize in certain types of goods camouflage
Video examples
Peter Reinhart: The art...
And we harvest those seeds, and those are the wheat kernels. Now, in order to harvest it -- I mean, what's harvesting? It's just a euphemism for killing, right? I mean, that's what's harvest -- we say we harvest the pig, you know? Yes, we slaughter, you know. Yes, that's life. We harvest the wheat,
Video examples
Why can't we talk about...
I wanted answers to these questions but there was no one for me to ask. My mother knew nothing about menstruation except that it was dirty and shameful and I shouldn't talk about it. I asked girlfriends and everybody spoke in euphemisms. And finally, when I got the courage to go to the doctor
Video examples
David Kessler: How to...
That is true. And euphemisms don't work. Don't tell them Grandpa's gone to sleep or Grandpa's on a long trip. You want to be honest. So, OK, here we are in a new time. We're starting to come out of this pandemic, at least in some countries in the world.
Video examples
What doctors don't know...
around the world have spent billions and billions of dollars on stockpiling and we've stockpiled Tamiflu in panic in the belief that it will reduce the rate of complications of influenza complications is a medical euphemism for pneumonia and death
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
or making atrocities sound acceptable by burying them in euphemisms and convoluted sentence structures. But even more mundane abuses of language can affect the way we think about things. The words you see and hear in everyday advertising
Video examples
How to talk about weight...
supportive environments that make it just a little bit easier to be healthy then everybody wins it's a really important area to think about next always think about health not appearance this isn't a euphemism the outward
Video examples
Talk about your death...
To kick the bucket, bite the dust, cash in your chips, check out, depart, expire, launch into eternity These are all euphemisms we use in humor
Video examples
The psychology of evil PIPE...
and they're getting no information about the insurgency. So they're going to put pressure on these soldiers, military police, to cross the line, give them permission to break the will of the enemy, to prepare them for interrogation, to soften them up, to take the gloves off. Those are the euphemisms, and this is how it was interpreted.
Video examples
What doctors don't know...
This is a drug called Tamiflu. Tamiflu is a drug which governments around the world have spent billions and billions of dollars on stockpiling, and we've stockpiled Tamiflu in panic, in the belief that it will reduce the rate of complications of influenza. Complications is a medical euphemism for pneumonia
Video examples
Jason De León: Decoding...
is euphemism for smuggler so this town basically just revolves around smuggling and everybody knows it migrants go there they prepare themselves they hop on a bus drive down to the border and then walk into the desert if you go to the vendors in al thar they specialize in certain types of goods camouflage
Video examples
Peter Reinhart: The art...
And we harvest those seeds, and those are the wheat kernels. Now, in order to harvest it -- I mean, what's harvesting? It's just a euphemism for killing, right? I mean, that's what's harvest -- we say we harvest the pig, you know? Yes, we slaughter, you know. Yes, that's life. We harvest the wheat,
Video examples
Why can't we talk about...
I wanted answers to these questions but there was no one for me to ask. My mother knew nothing about menstruation except that it was dirty and shameful and I shouldn't talk about it. I asked girlfriends and everybody spoke in euphemisms. And finally, when I got the courage to go to the doctor
Video examples
David Kessler: How to...
That is true. And euphemisms don't work. Don't tell them Grandpa's gone to sleep or Grandpa's on a long trip. You want to be honest. So, OK, here we are in a new time. We're starting to come out of this pandemic, at least in some countries in the world.
Video examples
What doctors don't know...
around the world have spent billions and billions of dollars on stockpiling and we've stockpiled Tamiflu in panic in the belief that it will reduce the rate of complications of influenza complications is a medical euphemism for pneumonia and death
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
or making atrocities sound acceptable by burying them in euphemisms and convoluted sentence structures. But even more mundane abuses of language can affect the way we think about things. The words you see and hear in everyday advertising
Video examples
How to talk about weight...
supportive environments that make it just a little bit easier to be healthy then everybody wins it's a really important area to think about next always think about health not appearance this isn't a euphemism the outward
Video examples
Talk about your death...
To kick the bucket, bite the dust, cash in your chips, check out, depart, expire, launch into eternity These are all euphemisms we use in humor
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Richard Corliss
American Writer
The exact meaning of irony is so narrow that the word is hardly worth using; in its broad, current definition, it's a euphemism for sarcasm. 'I'm not being sarcastic; I'm being ironic.' No, you're not. You're evading the responsibility for being sarcastic.
Quote examples
Holly Black
American Writer
In the older folklore, faeries were frightening beings. In fact, it was such a bad idea to get their attention that people would use flattering euphemisms for them, such as 'the people of peace,' 'the little people,' and 'the good neighbors.
Quote examples
Fred W. Friendly
American Producer
A composite is a euphemism for a lie. It's disorderly. It's dishonest and it's not journalism.
Quote examples
Meena Harris
American Lawyer
I wrote 'Kamala and Maya's Big Idea' because I don't want my daughters to think in euphemisms.
Quote examples
Andrea Dworkin
American Critic
Women's fashion' is a euphemism for fashion created by men for women.
Quote examples
Paul Johnson
British Journalist
Euphemism is a human device to conceal the horrors of reality.
Quote examples
Quentin Crisp
English Writer
Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.
Quote examples
Jo Brand
British Comedian
I've never been a fan of euphemism.
Quote examples
Bobbie Gentry
American Musician
Euphemism is a euphemism for lying.
Quote examples
James Nesbitt
Irish Actor
Spoilt' is a euphemism for 'loved.
Quote examples
Richard Corliss
American Writer
The exact meaning of irony is so narrow that the word is hardly worth using; in its broad, current definition, it's a euphemism for sarcasm. 'I'm not being sarcastic; I'm being ironic.' No, you're not. You're evading the responsibility for being sarcastic.
Quote examples
Holly Black
American Writer
In the older folklore, faeries were frightening beings. In fact, it was such a bad idea to get their attention that people would use flattering euphemisms for them, such as 'the people of peace,' 'the little people,' and 'the good neighbors.
Quote examples
Fred W. Friendly
American Producer
A composite is a euphemism for a lie. It's disorderly. It's dishonest and it's not journalism.
Quote examples
Meena Harris
American Lawyer
I wrote 'Kamala and Maya's Big Idea' because I don't want my daughters to think in euphemisms.
Quote examples
Andrea Dworkin
American Critic
Women's fashion' is a euphemism for fashion created by men for women.
Quote examples
Paul Johnson
British Journalist
Euphemism is a human device to conceal the horrors of reality.
Quote examples
Quentin Crisp
English Writer
Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.
Quote examples
Jo Brand
British Comedian
I've never been a fan of euphemism.
Quote examples
Bobbie Gentry
American Musician
Euphemism is a euphemism for lying.
Quote examples
James Nesbitt
Irish Actor
Spoilt' is a euphemism for 'loved.
Example 1 of 10
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