From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Dysphemism[1] means using of an harsh or rude word or phrase instead of a polite one. It is more or less the opposite of euphemism.

Examples of dysphemism are “dead tree edition” for the paper version of an online magazine, or the American soldiers calling their common breakfast of creamed chipped beef on toast “shit on a shingle”.

Related pages[change | change source]

English Wiktionary
The English Wiktionary has a dictionary definition (meanings of a word) for: dysphemism

References[change | change source]

  1. from the Greek “dys” δυς = non and “pheme'” φήμη = speech). Another word with a similar meaning is cacophemism which in Greek “cacos” κακός = bad