dysphemism

dysphemism

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French dysphémisme, modelled after euphémisme, with the prefix dys-. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

• enPR: dĭs'fə-mĭz"(ə)m, IPA^(key): /ˈdɪs.fəˌmɪ.z(ə)m/

Noun

Examples

bullshit for lies or nonsense (compare euphemism: fib) worm food for dead body (compare euphemisms: passed away, no longer with us) shrink for psychiatrist crapper or (British) bog for toilet (compare euphemism: bathroom) dead tree edition for the paper version of a publication that can be found online snail mail for mail written on paper that is then physically transported fry for capital punishment by electric chair boneyard for a cemetery

dysphemism (countable and uncountable, plural dysphemisms)

1. (uncountable) The use of a word or phrase carrying negative connotations or imagery (especially one that is derogatory, offensive or vulgar) to replace a (more) neutral original.
2. (countable) A word or phrase that is used to replace another in this way.

Antonyms

• euphemism

Related terms

• dysphemistic

Translations

use of a derogatory or vulgar word to replace a neutral one

Czech: dysfemismus m Dutch: dysfemisme (nl) n Finnish: dysfemismi, nimittely (fi) French: dysphémisme (fr) m, hyperbole (fr) f German: Dysphemisierung Malay: bahasa kasar Portuguese: disfemismo (pt) m Russian: дисфеми́зм (ru) (disfemízm)

word or phrase used to replace another in this way

Chinese: Mandarin: 污言穢語 (zh), 惡俗字詞, 醜化誣衊之詞, 誹謗中傷之詞, 謾罵侮辱之詞, 冒犯詆毀之詞, 粗鄙不雅之詞, 惡意貶損之詞, 污蔑抹黑之詞, 言語攻擊 Czech: hanlivé slovo n, dysfemismus m Dutch: dysfemisme (nl) Finnish: dysfemismi, haukkumasana French: dysphémisme (fr) m German: Dysphemismus (de), Kakophemismus (de) Italian: disfemismo (it) m Polish: dysfemizm m Portuguese: disfemismo (pt) Russian: дисфеми́зм (ru) (disfemízm) Spanish: disfemismo (es) m Swedish: dysfemism (sv), kakofemism

Further reading

• dysphemism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia