Dysphemisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term or expression that is intentionally harsh or offensive, used to replace a more neutral or pleasant one
2. Language that deliberately conveys a negative connotation to evoke a strong emotional response from the audience
3. A word choice that aims to shock or demean, standing in contrast to euphemisms which soften the meaning

Etymology: "Dysphemisms" is the plural of "dysphemism," a noun borrowed from French "dysphémisme." The French word was modelled on "euphémisme," the existing term for a mild or polite substitute, so the pair is a deliberate mirror image: where a euphemism softens a harsh reality, a dysphemism swaps in a harsher word than the situation calls for. The Greek-derived prefix "dys-" means "bad" or "ill," as in "dysfunction" and "dyslexia," while "eu-" means "good" or "well," which is why "euphemism" carries the sense of speaking well. Attaching "dys-" to the familiar pattern gave English a ready term for the opposite of the polite evasion. Dysphemisms appear in insults, slang, and deliberately blunt political rhetoric, where a speaker picks a crude label over a neutral one to provoke a reaction.

Synonyms: derogatory terms, slurs, pejoratives, insults, slander

Antonyms: euphemisms, flattering terms, compliments, praise, honors