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Glite Dictionary
to euphemize

to euphemize

1 8.8
To refer to something using a mild or indirect word instead of a harsh one
  • verb
  • /ˈjuːfəmˌaɪz/
translation icon : eufemizar
  • The company tried to euphemize the layoffs by calling them a 'rightsizing initiative.'

Well, these are what what we called other things, you know, to euphemize them.

Examples

  • Well, there is something deliberately distorted here, not only in social perception but in the use of language to euphemize his action.

    Blog text (16)

  • The montage shows images of police violence against black people and ends with a series of headlines that normalize and euphemize police violence against black youth.

  • When something gets doubly euphemized, it is quite possible to not even be able to figure out what is going on (from the English translation).

    Blog text (27)

  • It was alluded to, euphemized, hinted at, and danced around.

    Blog text (34)

  • For example, in 1982, the Ministry of Education was attempting to rewrite textbook descriptions so as to euphemize the history of Japanese expansionism. (Yoneyama 1999: 5)

    Academic text (2006)

  • George W. Bush's Iraq escalation, euphemized as "surge," sends just over 20,000 more troops into that bottomless pit and flirts with an invasion of Iran.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Instead of using harsh language, she chose to euphemize her criticism of the project.

  • When discussing the budget cuts, he decided to euphemize the situation by referring to it as 'resource reallocation.'

Synonyms

to mince words
vsto euphemize
  • Informal
16 7.1

Speak in a careful, indirect way to avoid offending people

refer to something using a mild substitute for a harsher expression

How Mild

to sugarcoat
  • Informal
19 5.0
to euphemize
1 8.8
to soften
50 3.1

Surface Forms

euphemize infinitive
euphemise infinitive
euphemized past
euphemised past
euphemized past participle
euphemised past participle
euphemizing present participle
euphemising present participle
euphemizes third person singular
euphemises third person singular

Morphology

euphemize = euphemism (transparent) = euphem + ize

Formed by adding the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize' to the base 'euphemism'/'euphem-', so the meaning 'to make or express in a euphemistic way' is directly predictable.

Etymology

Euphemize comes from Greek parts eu- meaning 'good' and -pheme meaning 'speech' or 'what is said', the same eu- you see in eulogy. So, to euphemize is to 'say something in a nicer or milder way' instead of using a harsh or blunt word.