Deaccession is a classic euphemism. When I first heard it, I assumed it was a parody of bureaucracy-speak or a flimsy attempt at linguistic camouflage, like getting a break-up note that says, "I'm not leaving you, honey; I'm just failing to disexit the relationship." I assume it was intended to ease the blow of a headline. If a museum of art "dumps," "offloads," "sells," "liquidates," or just "gets rid of" some of its holdings, that sounds like the museum is in financial difficulties. But if we call it "deaccessioning," some coiner of weasel words decided, then no one will really mind or even notice.
People notice anyway.
