Word
euphemist
Phoneticseu·phemist
/ˈjufəmɪst/
Definition
n. a person who uses mild or indirect words to talk about something unpleasant or embarrassing. You might be one if you say 'passed away' instead of 'died' to be polite.
n. a person who employs mild, indirect, or vague expressions as substitutes for those considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.
Examples
“The euphemist described the mass firing as a 'career transition opportunity'.”
“A skilled euphemist in the government office managed to rebrand the tax increase as a 'community investment contribution'.”
“Critics argued that the spokesperson was a professional euphemist, using opaque language to obscure the environmental impact of the new industrial project.”
Examples
simple
“The euphemist described the mass firing as a 'career transition opportunity'.”
contextual
“A skilled euphemist in the government office managed to rebrand the tax increase as a 'community investment contribution'.”
complex
“Critics argued that the spokesperson was a professional euphemist, using opaque language to obscure the environmental impact of the new industrial project.”
Usage
Often used to describe someone who avoids direct language in political, medical, or social contexts.
Real-World Examples
“While we may chuckle at the pretentiousness of euphemists and the exaggerations of dysphemists, we acknowledge the upscalists who make dieting seem desirable.” “The fiscal euphemist of the Reagan Administration has been identified as Lawrence A. Kudlow, who claims to have originated the term "revenue enhancement," a phrase used by the White House last month as a substitute for tax increase.” Etymology
Derived from the Greek word 'euphemismos', which means the use of words of good omen. It combines 'eu' (well) and 'pheme' (speaking). The English form appeared in the late 19th century to describe those who avoid blunt language.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/euphemist