the language teacher
Therefore, knowing how to reduce the impact is very essential. In this post, I would like to share a short list of words along with their euphemism.
Euphemism means an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh.
| Word | Euphemism | |
| accident, crisis, disaster | incident | |
| addict; addiction | substance abuser; substance abuse, chemical dependency | |
| adulterous | extramarital | |
| arrest (v) | apprehend | |
| beggar | panhandler, homeless person | |
| bombing | air support | |
| break-in | security breach | |
| brothel | massage parlor | |
| cheap | frugal, thrifty, economical | |
| coffin | casket | |
| complaint form | response form | |
| confinement | detention | |
| criminal (adj) | illegal | |
| criminal (young) | juvenile delinquent | |
| crippled | disabled, physically challenged | |
| custodian | building maintenance staff | |
| dead | departed, deceased, late, lost, gone, passed | |
| death insurance | life insurance | |
| death penalty | capital punishment | |
| death | demise, end, destination, better world, afterlife | |
| deaths | body count | |
| die | pass away, pass on, expire, go to heaven | |
| drug addict | substance abuser | |
| drugs | illegal substances | |
| drunk (adj) | intoxicated, inebriated, tipsy | |
| exploit (land) | develop | |
| fail | fizzle out, fall short, go out of business | |
| false (adj) | prosthesis | |
| false teeth | dentures | |
| fat | overweight, chubby, portly, stout, plump | |
| fire (v) | lay off, release, downsize, let go, streamline, rightsize | |
| garbage collector | sanitation person | |
| garbage dump | landfill | |
| genocide | ethnic cleansing | |
| hyperactive | Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) | |
| illegal worker | undocumented worker | |
| imprisoned | incarcerated | |
| informer | confidential source | |
| jail | secure facility | |
| jungle | rain forest | |
| juvenile delinquent | problem child, at-risk child | |
| kill | put down/away/out/to sleep | |
| kill on a mass basis | liquidate | |
| killing of innocents | collateral damage | |
| lawyer | attorney | |
| lazy | unmotivated | |
| lie (n) | fib, fabrication, cover story, story, untruth, inaccuracy | |
| make love | sleep with | |
| money | funds | |
| mortuary | funeral home/parlor | |
| multi-racial | diverse | |
| murder | hit, kill, do someone in, finish off someone | |
| noisy | boisterous | |
| office equipment | productivity products | |
| old | mature, distinguished, senior, traditional, seasoned, new (e.g., “The house is two years new”) | |
| old age | golden age, golden years | |
| old person | senior citizen, pensioner | |
| old persons’ home | convalescent hospital, retirement home, rest home, nursing home | |
| one-room apartment | studio apartment, efficiency | |
| pay (n) | remuneration, salary | |
| person | representative, individual | |
| perspire, perspiration | sweat | |
| police officer | peace officer | |
| poor children | at-risk children | |
| poor nation | emerging nation, developing nation, third-world nation | |
| poor student | underachiever, underperformer | |
| poor | low-income, working class, modest, underprivileged | |
| power failure | service interruption | |
| prison | correctional facility | |
| prisoner | inmate, convict, detainee | |
| problem | issue, challenge, complication | |
| rain, snow, hail | precipitation | |
| remedial education | special education | |
| removed from duty | put on administrative leave | |
| repression (social, political) | law and order | |
| retarded | special, slow, mentally challenged | |
| rough | physical | |
| rude | self-centered | |
| sales | marketing | |
| salesman, -woman | sales associate | |
| say | indicate, disclose, mention | |
| school | institute | |
| secretary | administrative assistant | |
| selfish | self-centered | |
| sexual intercourse | sleep with, make love | |
| sexual relations (illicit) | liaison | |
| sexual relationship | involvement, intimate relationship, affair | |
| sick | indisposed, ill, under the weather | |
| small | quaint, cozy, petite | |
| software product | solution | |
| solve | resolve | |
| spy (n) | source of information, agent | |
| spying | surveillance | |
| steal | appropriate, salvage, lift, borrow | |
| stupid | slow | |
| suicide (to commit) | to end it all, take the easy way out, do oneself in | |
| surprise attack | preemptive strike | |
| sweat (v) | perspire | |
| talk (v, n) | converse (v), conversation (n) | |
| teacher | educator | |
| theft | inventory shrinkage | |
| tip (n) | gratuity | |
| toilet | john, WC, men’s room, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory | |
| totalitarian | authoritarian | |
| tramp | homeless person | |
| ugly | unattractive, modest, plain | |
| underwear (women’s) | lingerie | |
| unemployed | between jobs, taking time off | |
| unreserved seating | general admission, festival seating | |
| used | previously owned, pre-owned, refurbished, second-hand | |
| vagrant | homeless person | |
| venereal disease | social disease | |
| victim | casualty | |
| wrong | improper, questionable, impropriety (n) |
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