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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of euphemism
The claim that euphemisms for death are somehow unique to Vietnamese culture is absurd in the extreme.
—
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco have long received EU funds to ‘manage migration’ (a euphemism for preventing people from leaving their territories, often by force).
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Whenever a flock is infected they are culled — a euphemism for killed — in order to stop the spread of the virus.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2025
Look at rumors, gossip, metaphors, euphemisms, folktales—all the means by which subordinate groups disguise their opposition.
—Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco have long received EU funds to ‘manage migration’ (a euphemism for preventing people from leaving their territories, often by force).
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Whenever a flock is infected they are culled — a euphemism for killed — in order to stop the spread of the virus.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2025
Look at rumors, gossip, metaphors, euphemisms, folktales—all the means by which subordinate groups disguise their opposition.
—Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euphemism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for euphemism
Noun
-
To extend the metaphor, love might not save the house but needs saving from it, to be kept alive in new forms of shelter before the rebuild.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 June 2025
-
Today, technical debt has become a popular metaphor for communicating the long-term implications of architectural decisions.—
Shilpa Shastri,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Allowing kids to complete the phrases on each page in their own words is a unique, personalized touch that could also act as a time capsule.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
6 June 2025
-
Lin had a remarkable memory for words, phrases, and formulas.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
In simple terms, Gueye is a prominent presence off the ball, performing a large volume of actions, and doing so with a high success rate.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Universities in Asia that have over the years risen the global ranks in terms of STEM fields will especially benefit, Marginson says, particularly as a large number of international students in the U.S. come from Asia.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
Unleashing Wood has ushered in an exciting new phase for a widely influential band that has defined a state-of-the-art jazz idiom deeply engaged with other genres.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
23 May 2025
-
Scientists analyzed recordings of three groups of chimpanzees living in the Ivory Coast and found that chimps can combine their hoots, grunts and calls in a similar way to how humans use idioms or change the order of words to build new phrases.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Euphemism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/euphemism. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share