Wiktionary
n. a form of journalese characterized by the over use of synonyms for fear of repeating a word; best avoided by the use of pronouns or repetition
Wikipedia
Elegant variation is the unnecessary, and sometimes misleading, use of synonyms to denote a single thing, driven by an imbalance in compositional tone in which an attempt to maintain euphony by avoiding monotonous repetition degrades clarity and inadvertently introduces a different kind of tonal problem (such as unintended humor or attention-drawing eccentricity). Henry Watson Fowler (1858–1933) coined the name elegant variation for this phenomenon. In his Dictionary of Modern English Usage (first edition, 1926), Fowler wrote:
Elegant variation may be seen in journalism if word variation, such as the replacement of the word "fire" with "blaze" or "conflagration", draws attention to itself. It is considered particularly problematic in legal writing, scientific writing, and other technical writing, where the avoidance of ambiguity is essential. Alternatives to synonymy include repetition and the use of pro-forms.
Usage examples of "elegant variation".
In my excitement I missed the initial roll-call, and had to sit through twenty minutes of elegant variation - 'the 28-year-old Australian', 'the young Wiltshire housewife' - before I caught the ladies' names, so intent were the unctuous commentators on concealing the fact that they had bugger-all to say.
The man wore an elegant variation on their own costume, sans beads and sequins, the young Oriental woman at his side a black leather jumpsuit that was pornographically tight.
He preferred the dashing dress version, with as much elegant variation as the rather elastic rules permitted, or a trifle more.