Euphemism and Dysphemism
Euphemism is substituting a bad, unpleasant word for a good one. Words such as toilet, bullshit, forced death by poisoning, mad, shit, handicapped and dead are considered rude and unpleasant to hear so they are replaced with words like restroom, BS, lethal injection, mentally disturbed, defecate, physically challenged and no more, respectively. Euphemisms hide the gory picture behind such words to lessen the unpleasantness.
The origin of the word euphemism is from the Greek word euphemo which means good speech.
Sometimes, abbreviations are used as euphemism.
Examples
SOB – Son of a bitch
Bra – Brazier
Execution – Lawful murder
Mal de mer (French) – Seasickness
Piss – Urinate
Groin – Genitals
Unplanned landing – Plane crash
Passed away, kicked the bucket, gone south, gone to heaven, passed on – Died
Executioner – Hangman
Chauffeur – Driver
Sleeping with, doing it – Having sex with
Substance abuse – Addiction
Break wind – Fart
Lose your lunch – Vomiting
House of ill repute – Brothel
Call of nature – Needing to go to the toilet
With child, knocked up – Pregnant
Laying off – Firing employees
Experiencing heavy casualties – soldiers being killed
Janitor – Caretaker, custodian
Senior – Old
Revenue enhancements – Tax increases
Ethnic cleansing – Genocide
Dysphemisms
Dysphemism is when a euphemism for a bad word itself becomes a bad word and needs another euphemism for it. For example, crippled became handicapped, but then handicapped also turned impolite, so another euphemism physically challenged came into being. This linguistic process is called pejoration.
When the euphemism becomes distasteful because it has taken on the negative characteristics of the actual word, then you need to coin another one. Simple.
Examples
Death camps – concentration camps – internment camps
Used – Second-hand – Pre-owned
Poor countries – Undeveloped countries – Third world countries
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