dysphemism
Sign in to saveA dysphemism is an expression with connotations that are derogatory either about the subject matter or to the audience. Dysphemisms contrast with neutral or euphemistic expressions. For example, expressing disapproval by calling a person a snake is a dysphemism. Dysphemism may be motivated by fear, distaste, hatred, contempt, humour and abuse.
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Encyclopedic overview
14 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Usage
- Types
- Dysphemistic epithets
- Name dysphemism
- Cross-cultural dysphemism
- Context and drift
- Move from euphemism to dysphemism
- Reclamation of dysphemisms
- Taboo terms
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
A dysphemism is an expression with connotations that are derogatory either about the subject matter or to the audience. Dysphemisms contrast with neutral or euphemistic expressions. For example, expressing disapproval by calling a person a snake is a dysphemism. Dysphemism may be motivated by fear, distaste, hatred, contempt, humour and abuse.
==Etymology== The word dysphemism was composed from the Greek elements and in the late 19th century. Related terms include malphemism (from the Latin ), cacophemism (from the Greek ) and pyrophemism (from the Greek )
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “dysphemism” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.