-phemia, -phemic, -phemism, -pheme, -phemy

Obscene or filthy language in speech.

1. An offensive expression or word that is deliberately substituted for a neutral one: Ted's brother used a dysphemism when he was talking about visiting a friend who was in a "loony bin" instead of saying in the "mental hospital".
2. Any physical impairment or problem when speaking: Jan was so chilly from being in the winter storm that she could only explain what happened with dysphemisms of stutters. © ALL rights are reserved.

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A term for substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one that is considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.

A British spelling version of euphemize.

1. A mild or pleasant word, or phrase, which is used in place of one that might be considered too direct, too harsh, too unpleasant, or too offensive: One example of a euphemism is to use "eliminate" instead of "kill".
2. The use of a word, or phrase, that is more neutral, vague, or indirect to replace a direct, harsh, unpleasant, or an insulting term: Instead of Gordon saying that his wife was just too fat, he used a euphemism mentioning that she just had a lot of “love handles”! © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

Someone who makes a substitution of an agreeable, an acceptable, or inoffensive expression for another one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant.

A reference to the use of an acceptable word or phrase to avoid saying another word or phrase that may be unpleasant or disrespectful.

Characterized as a softer or more pleasant expression to describe someone or something.

The substitution of a harsh or blunt expression for one that is mild, indirect, or vague.

To avoid saying, or writing, something direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive by using milder or more indirect language.

A reference to anyone who makes a substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant.

1. Any of a set of written symbols, letters, or combinations of letters that represent the same sound, e.g. “f” in fat, “ph” in photo, and “gh” in tough.
2. A written symbol that is used to represent speech.

In linguistics, the study of systems of writing and their relationship to the systems of the languages they represent.