Meaning & use
dysphemism
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a harsh, blunt, or offensive expression used in place of a milder or more neutral one.
See it in a sentence
Calling the layoffs a 'bloodbath' was a dysphemism meant to shock readers.
Referring to the hospital as a 'meat locker' is a dysphemism for how cold it feels.
A note on using this word
The direct opposite of a euphemism: while a euphemism softens something unpleasant, a dysphemism deliberately makes it sound worse.
Words with an opposite meaning
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