Some authorities have stated that the official name Estado Libre Asociado constitutes a euphemism, that is, a term intended to give positive appearances to negative events or even mislead entirely, and have charged that the official name in English of "Commonwealth" constitutes a fig leaf, i.e., a term used figuratively and associated with the covering up of an act that is actually embarrassing or distasteful with something of innocuous appearance.
Some authorities have posited that the name Free Associated State constitutes a euphemism, implying that it obscures negative aspects or deceives. They also argue that the English translation of "Commonwealth" serves as a fig leaf, masking an embarrassing reality behind a harmless-sounding term.