One can define x-phemisms semantically, according to its Aspects of linguistic meaning, or pragmatically, depending on how it’s used in context.

semantic x-phemisms

Dysphemism: a taboo linguistic expression
- Greek, “bad speech”
- Usu. impolite, offensive, dispreferred words
Orthophemism: a non-taboo expression with the same informational meaning as some dysphemism
- Greek, “straight speech”
- Usu. more formal, direct/literal than corresponding euphemism
Euphemism: non-taboo expressions that are substituted for dyphemisms (or orthophemisms) and have the same informational meaning
- Greek, “good speech”
- Usu. more colloquial, figurative, indirect than corresponding orthophemism
- Why euphemisms?
  - Less clear
  - Politeness, avoiding offense, saving face
  - Personal reasons
  - Censorship
  - To avoid swearing around children

pragmatic x-phemisms

Dysphemistic: when utterance is more offensive, impolite, or negative in comparison to alternative
Euphemistic: when utterance is more inoffensive or positive in comparison to alternative
Depending on context
- Dyphemisms can be used euphemistically
  - That’s some good shit
  - He’s a funny motherfucker
- Euphemisms (and/or orthophemisms) may be used dyphemistically
  - Violent metaphors for sex (bang, nail, hammer, impale, hit)
  - Common words used as slurs (dog, cow)
  - “Oh, fudge!”
  - “a vulgar euphemism for a rectal aperture”
Some euphemisms have no dysphemism, substituting instead for an orthophemism
- e.g. dearly departed, deceased = dead