euphemized
Put more gently
Euphemized is the past tense of euphemize, meaning to substitute a mild or indirect expression for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.
When something is euphemized, its unpleasant reality gets softened: deaths become "passings," firings become "layoffs," and torture becomes "enhanced interrogation." The report euphemized civilian casualties as "collateral damage."
Socially sensitive and careful
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- decorousSocially appropriate, dignified
- genteelAffectedly polite or refined
delicate · considerate · refined · sensitive · proper · courteous · respectful · civil
Minimized the significance of
- mitigatedReduced in intensity
- temperedStrengthened through heat treatment
- moderatedRestrained or supervised
- toned downMade less extreme
muted · cushioned · blunted · mellowed · gentled · palliated · glossed over · sugarcoated
Indirect, wordy expression
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- allusionIndirect reference to something
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
obliqueness · equivocation · hinting · suggestion · intimation · understatement · skirting · sidestepping
tactful
Socially sensitive and careful
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- decorousSocially appropriate, dignified
genteel · delicate · considerate · refined · sensitive · proper · courteous · respectful · civil · gracious
downplayed
Minimized the significance of
- mitigatedReduced in intensity
- temperedStrengthened through heat treatment
- moderatedRestrained or supervised
toned down · muted · cushioned · blunted · mellowed · gentled · palliated · glossed over · sugarcoated · whitewashed
circumlocution
Indirect, wordy expression
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- allusionIndirect reference to something
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
implication · obliqueness · equivocation · hinting · suggestion · intimation · understatement · skirting · sidestepping · roundabout
euphemizedspelled out
called a spade a spade · called out · laid bare · unvarnished · vulgarized
euphemizedlaid bare
Revealed completely
exposed · unvarnished · unsanitized · unwhitewashed · uncensored