| Library / English Dictionary |
DYSPHEMISM
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
An offensive or disparaging expression that is substituted for an inoffensive one
Example:
his favorite dysphemism was to ask for axle grease when he wanted butter
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("dysphemism" is a kind of...):
expression; locution; saying (a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dysphemism"):
bus; heap; jalopy (a car that is old and unreliable)
old man (an informal term for your father)
Antonym:
euphemism (an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh)
Derivation:
dysphemistic (of or the nature of dysphemism)
