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
• Polish: dysfemizacja f
• Portuguese: disfemismo (pt) m
• Russian: дисфеми́зм (ru) (disfemízm)

word or phrase used to replace another in this way

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 污言穢語 / 污言秽语, 惡俗字詞 / 恶俗字词, 醜化誣衊之詞 / 丑化诬蔑之词, 誹謗中傷之詞 / 诽谤中伤之词, 謾罵侮辱之詞 / 谩骂侮辱之词, 冒犯詆毀之詞 / 冒犯诋毁之词, 粗鄙不雅之詞 / 粗鄙不雅之词, 惡意貶損之詞 / 恶意贬损之词, 污蔑抹黑之詞 / 污蔑抹黑之词, 言語攻擊 / 言语攻击

• 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