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.

The word dysphemism was composed from the Greek elements dys δύς "mis-" and pheme φήμη "speech, voice, reputation" in the late 19th century. Related terms include malphemism (from the Latin malus "bad"), cacophemism (from the Greek kakos κακός "bad") and pyrophemism (from the Greek pyr πῦρ "fire")

A dysphemism is a marked form (standing out as unusual or divergent) which expresses a speaker's view or attitude towards the listener or group.

Animal names are frequently used as dysphemistic epithets. By using one, the speaker attempts to offend or antagonize the listener by targeting their humanity. Examples include "bitch", "pig", "swine", "chicken", "weasel", "sheep", "snake", "rat", and "jackass".

Used when someone uses another's given name, disrespectfully or otherwise inappropriately, rather than a kinship term, style of office, or honorific to address someone specifically." The speaker uses a more casual or lower style than is appropriate given the social context. One example is calling one's mother by her first name rather than "Mom."

Many languages, to a greater extent than in English, indicate respect with verb tenses and thus provide more scope for such dysphemism and require care by non-native speakers to avoid causing offence by unintentional dysphemism.

This use of language may not constitute dysphemism if the choice of words used by the speaker is welcomed by the listener, such as a father who prefers being called by his given name as opposed to "Dad"/"Father". In that case it would appeal to the listener's positive face rather than damage it and would thus not be a dysphemism.

Similarly, being more formal with someone than expected may be a type of dysphemism. For example, if a child usually calls their father "dad" or "papa", calling him "father" may be a way of offending or antagonizing him, through coldness or distance (in other words, one might formally refer to one's father as "father," but when speaking to him one would use a particularly endearing term), or that he is merely his role, if a child usually called "Billy" is addressed by a parent as "William".