Pejoration

Crafty once meant powerful, and cunning meant knowledgeable; each has gradually taken on negative connotations (this is called pejoration). ❋ Unknown (2009)

In the United Kingdom the word is still often used in this sense, but it later underwent pejoration. ❋ Unknown (2010)

This is a customary Orthodox conclusion, and I mean no pejoration here. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I don't really care whose "fault" the pejoration may be, I just stay away. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Although many articles, theoretical essays, and books have been written about metaphors, little effort has been made to investigate them systematically: as all of language is itself a metaphor (unless one believes in logomancy), one is continually confronted in the compilation of an ordinary dictionary with examples of semantic and linguistic changes (as well as amelioration, pejoration, etc.) that are tantamount to shifts of meaning that, loosely, could be said to be metaphoric. ❋ Unknown (1993)

Terms such as toilet and lavatory have, like privy, undergone pejoration over the years (that is, their meanings have acquired depreciatory connotations). ❋ Unknown (1993)

My own observation is that Informal might be undergoing its own round of pejoration -- these things sometimes go in cycles -- and, in a reference book I recently completed, which will be published by Oxford University Press in the autumn of 1991, I have chosen to return to Colloq. ❋ Unknown (1991)

Other, more objective treatises have been more likely to use a variety of terms with less cumulatively pejorative force -- cumulatively, because a term used once may carry only slight negative connotation but, used frequently, can create a considerable sense of pejoration in the mind of the reader. ❋ Unknown (1984)

The Norsemen were apparently as sexist as we are: all of the following, flag, giglet, gimmer, skit, and slattern generally mean ` low, contemptible woman '; only may ` maiden' has survived with specific reference to women without pejoration. ❋ Unknown (1984)

Other words without necessary pejoration: fellow, literally ` fee-layer '; guest, replacing OE g (i) est; and ombudsman. ❋ Unknown (1984)

But now that The New York Times reporters use similes like "as devastated as the South Bronx," the process of pejoration has about hit bottom. ❋ Unknown (1976)

And semantic change was analyzed in terms of amelioration and pejoration, elevation and degradation. ❋ Unknown (1976)

5 One of many structures of change is continued pejoration of words. ❋ Newmania (2008)

Speaking of pejoration of ones character and public slandering of an individuals past affiliations; Why isn’t Sarah Palins witch doctor anointing with Pastor Muthee or Todd Palins registration with the government denouncing Alaska Independence Party being slung into play? ❋ Unknown (2008)

I don't think you can really argue that the decision to use the word 'cunt' equates to pejoration of discourse, especially since it was used thereafter to make a witty pun that got lolz from me at least.

` unrefined, 'is rarely encountered in modern dictionaries as a label because people have taken to designating four-letter words as vulgar, illustrating the semantic process known as pejoration ` depreciation,' the opposite of melioration. ❋ Unknown (1991)

(in formal contexts) bearing the Colloquial label, the word colloquial began to undergo pejoration itself. ❋ Unknown (1991)

❋ Anonymous (2003)

Calling [someone] a [nitwit] is pejorative. ❋ Indigo (2003)

Dr [Macker] said that my [essay] on [the Republican party] had a pejorative tone but he gave me a 'B'. I mean, what the fuck? I don't understand that guy, or his lame-assed insults. ❋ Bwigger (2006)

When [polled], the [pejority] of idiots believe McDonald’s nuggets taste better than [styrofoam]. Donald Trump won the election by catering to the pejority. ❋ The Silent Pejority (2018)

[wanking] is pejorative to chicks because we got less [juice] for them to [swallow] ❋ OOOooo (2003)

[pejorative] terms -Gay -Loser -Almost every other [word out] of Katherine [Ramos's] mouth. ❋ D95a (2010)

"[OH]! i was [just] [pejored] ON!!!!" ❋ PEJOREDDD (2007)