euphemism

euphemism
    n 1: an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted
         for one that is considered offensive or too harsh [ant:
         {dysphemism}]
    

Euphemism \Eu"phe*mism\ ([=u]"f[-e]*m[i^]z'm), n. [Gr. ? fr. ?
   to use word of a good omen; e'y^ well + ? to speak: cf. F.
   euph['e]misme. See {Fame}.] (Rhet.)
   A figure in which a harsh or indelicate word or expression is
   softened; a way of describing an offensive thing by an
   inoffensive expression; a mild name for something
   disagreeable. Euphemistic
    

36 Moby Thesaurus words for "euphemism":
      Gongorism, affectation, affectedness, amelioration, artfulness,
      artifice, artificiality, cushioning, elegance, euphuism,
      exquisiteness, formalism, formality, goody-goodness,
      goody-goodyism, hyperelegance, indirect, manneredness, mannerism,
      mild, mitigation, mollification, overelaboration, overelegance,
      overniceness, overpreciseness, overrefinement, pedantry,
      preciosity, preciousness, precisianism, pretentiousness, purism,
      substitution, unnaturalness, vague