dysphemism
dysphemism — noun
1. a rude or unpleasant word chosen on purpose in place of a milder one, or the act
a rude or unpleasant word chosen on purpose in place of a milder one, or the act of choosing such a word to sound harsh or to insult.
Calling the old car a 'rust bucket' is a dysphemism Aarav used to mock his brother.
a dysphemism for [milder word]
The writer chose 'croaked' instead of 'died' as a cruel dysphemism in the obituary.
harsh word swapped in for a gentle one
Paloma called her rival's budget a 'money pit', a dysphemism that made voters nervous.
The teacher warned that 'pig' for a police officer is a well-known dysphemism.
Lien's local paper labelled the protesters a 'mob', a dysphemism that angered many readers.
- derogatory term
everyday wording for an insulting label; less technical than 'dysphemism'
- pejorative
a word carrying disapproval; overlaps but stresses negative judgement over deliberate substitution
- euphemism
a mild word used in place of a harsh one — the exact reverse
文法句型
a dysphemism for [noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'euphemism', its direct opposite: a euphemism softens an idea ('passed away' for 'died'), while a dysphemism sharpens or worsens it ('croaked'). Often used as a deliberate rhetorical tool to belittle or provoke.