English dictionary · noun

euphemism

a mild word substituted for one considered too harsh

Meaning and definitions

1. a mild word substituted for one considered too harsh

Connected roots

• eu-

  good, well

• phan-

  showing, appearing

• -ism

  doctrine, practice, condition

Explore the word family

These words share a recorded root connection. A shared root is a learning clue; it does not establish every step in a word’s history.

• emphasis

  special importance or prominence given to something

• phenomenon

  a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen

• atheist

  a person who disbelieves in the existence of God or gods

• euthanasia

  the painless killing of a patient with an incurable disease

• anachronism

  a thing belonging to a period other than the one in which it exists

• neologism

  a newly coined word or expression

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