1
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
richly deserved the cognomen of "Butterfingers"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in moniker
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known
"Christopher Columbus" is the Latinized cognomen of the navigator who was known to his Spanish crewmates as Cristóbal Colón
Synonyms & Similar Words
variants
or cognomina
1
as in nicknames
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
richly deserved the cognomen of "Butterfingers"
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in names
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known
"Christopher Columbus" is the Latinized cognomen of the navigator who was known to his Spanish crewmates as Cristóbal Colón
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cognomen
Susan H. Gordon,
Forbes,
3 Sep. 2021
The cognomen, or surname, of the Oba is Ekpen-owa, or home leopard.
—
NOLA.com,
1 Feb. 2021
Moore submitted dozens of wonderful, wondrous cognomens, including Mongoose Civique, Regina-rex, Aeroterre, Dearborn Diamanté and the deathless Utopian Turtletop.
—
Dan Neil,
WSJ,
20 Mar. 2020
Denmark, Iceland, Hungary and Saudi Arabia also enforce specific naming conventions where common American cognomens might not make the cut.
—
Caroline Picard,
Good Housekeeping,
26 Sep. 2017
Noun
Part of the Tuscia — cognomen of lush forested Viterbo, crossed by the ancient Roman Francigena road and land of the Etruscans before that — Gradoli is also volcanic.
—
Susan H. Gordon,
Forbes,
3 Sep. 2021
The cognomen, or surname, of the Oba is Ekpen-owa, or home leopard.
—
NOLA.com,
1 Feb. 2021
Moore submitted dozens of wonderful, wondrous cognomens, including Mongoose Civique, Regina-rex, Aeroterre, Dearborn Diamanté and the deathless Utopian Turtletop.
—
Dan Neil,
WSJ,
20 Mar. 2020
Denmark, Iceland, Hungary and Saudi Arabia also enforce specific naming conventions where common American cognomens might not make the cut.
—
Caroline Picard,
Good Housekeeping,
26 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cognomen
Noun
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Despite its nickname, June's moon won't look red like a strawberry, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
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Pitman kept both the plate and the nickname, reluctantly.
Noun
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Which let’s be honest, was the way cooler moniker.
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The animator, who goes under the moniker of VivziePop on YouTube and Vivziebizzie on Instagram, is best known for her shows Hazbin Hotel and spin-off Helluva Boss.
Noun
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The epithet is not a concession (the database of Trumpian apologies has yet to receive any inputs).
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Tape recordings played during the case also showed Fuhrman had used a racial epithet despite his testimony claiming to never have done so.
Noun
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Albies has the sixth-best OPS among NL second basemen, but has made three All-Star games before, plays for a popular franchise and has strong name value, likely helping his voting numbers.
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Despite that progress, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined, as megacap tech names tumbled.
Noun
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And while all the children have now cut ties with Brad Pitt, Pax, now 23, remains the only one still in contact with his paternal relatives and who has kept his double surname.
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Their investigation eventually led them to a man identified by his surname, Guo, who reportedly lived alone.
Noun
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Johnson started all 40 games for Michigan last season, emerging as a breakout sophomore after starting just eight games as a freshman at Illinois, and capped his rise with a double‑double in the national title game under May.
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Tennis player Althea Gibson became the first Black woman to win Wimbledon, claiming the women’s singles title.
Noun
-
Just stingin' the nomenclature.
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France is a country that fastidiously applies rigorous nomenclature to everything from cheese to wine.
Cite this Entry
“Cognomen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cognomen. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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