1
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
King Richard I of England was given the very laudatory epithet "the Lion-Hearted"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
the school has a strict ban against the use of offensive epithets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epithet
The moral decay of Karensville might as well be Charlottesville and the epithet-spewing McLeoud behaves too much like myriad red-state lawmen for comfort.
—
Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
But the singer has often said that his time in the group was an education in both music and prejudice, with audiences cheering on the band during performances, and then hurling punches and racial epithets after their shows.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, in a video, praised the post while using a racist epithet in his commentary.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
But the singer has often said that his time in the group was an education in both music and prejudice, with audiences cheering on the band during performances, and then hurling punches and racial epithets after their shows.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, in a video, praised the post while using a racist epithet in his commentary.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
-
Goalkeeper Josimar Dias — best known by his nickname, Vozinha — and his Cape Verde teammates were monumental underdogs against the Spaniards.—
Bailey Johnson,
Washington Post,
15 June 2026
-
Cox revealed her adorable nickname for Coco in an Instagram post shared on Saturday.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Former Chair Jerome Powell for months was hit with insults when the Fed either didn't lower rates, or didn't lower them enough.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Turns out, this is a term of endearment, not an insult.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Under a different moniker but of the same spirit is the Campus 00s.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
-
Angelina Jolie’s son Knox is joining his siblings in dropping his dad Brad Pitt’s last name, just weeks after his older sister Zahara, 21, and older brother Maddox, 24, made the moniker change legal.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
That is said without the least bit of sarcasm.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
The sarcasm-and-saga methodology is being applied to something that’s too thin to support it.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
While that name was chosen in 1946 by Ned Irish, the team’s founder and president, Knickerbocker is a Dutch surname that dates back to the early settlers of New Netherland.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
-
With a month to go until his 18th birthday, the teen reportedly decided to ditch his father’s surname on his official high school diploma.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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