alter ego

noun

ˌȯl-tər-ˈē-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce alter ego (audio)
Definition of alter egonext
1
as in friend
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another over the years the state's other senator became his alter ego as well as his political ally

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in image
something or someone that strongly resembles another the hero of the novel is clearly the author's alter ego, right down to his receding hairline and middle-aged paunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alter ego This is her real alter ego, not playing Cowgirl Barbie with Kyle. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 Taking over the role of nerdy wallflower Fern, as well as her popular alter ego Vylette, is Chicago non-binary actor AJ Paramo. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 Sesay characterized the persona as an alter ego — a provocative internet character that Andrew uses to attract attention, entertain an audience and make money. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Stevens with play police officer Alex Murphy and his cyborg alter ego in the series. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alter ego
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alter ego
  1. friend
  2. image
  3. buddy
  4. twin
  5. picture
  6. replica
  7. clone
  8. duplicate
Noun
  • That threat is precisely why many of our friends and former colleagues in Washington have recently proposed sweeping measures meant to slow China’s biotech progress.
    — Patrick McHenry, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Here, a very dear, longtime local friend officiated the service with just a few attendees which included a blacktip reef shark and a colony of marine iguanas.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of friend
Noun
  • The Senate passed a bill Monday night that aims to regulate college sports after several court cases in recent years dramatically overhauled NCAA rules and allowed student-athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness, known as NIL.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026
  • View gallery - 11 images Ahead of the upcoming fall sales season, smart home robotics brand Narwal has announced an exclusive early access promotion on its flagship robot vacuum and mop system, the Narwal Flow 2.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of image
Noun
  • In the sequel series, John and his thunder-buddy Ted are neighbors, both with families of their own and dead-end jobs.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • One of his buddies needed insulin and waited up to four hours each day in the medical area to receive his necessary shots.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of buddy
Noun
  • That her means of exit is abandoning her newborn twins is less than sympathetic, but in a different era Cathy would have options beyond a domesticity that never suited her in the first place.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This is where digital twins become useful as decision-validation tools.
    — Amruth Puppala, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of twin
Noun
  • But the overall picture of religious infighting in 1640s Britain is essential to understanding how some people, especially poorer folk and especially women, found themselves on the wrong side of powerful, pious opponents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This result reveals a mechanism distinct from the conventional picture of particle-antiparticle production and could offer a new way to study phenomena that are otherwise difficult to calculate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of picture
Noun
  • At the heart of the property sits Ruinas del Mar, a seafood restaurant designed to look like a replica of Aruba's Bushiribana gold mine ruins.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The South Side team even had a theme night in August dedicated to the Pope, where fans at Rate Field were given replica papal-style hats featuring the Sox logo in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of replica
Noun
  • In what is considered Clone Saga’s most controversial twist in the books, Ben Reilly at one point is declared the real Spider-Man and Peter Parker the clone — a switch that eventually was reversed after backlash from fans.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Relying on human instinct to catch an AI clone is a losing strategy.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of clone
Noun
  • The list of candidates for the top prize duplicates last year’s roster of EOTY nominees, with the exception of Langley taking the spot that went to Morgan Wallen in 2024.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Objectors also allege some petition sheets were copies, duplicates or did not apply to the specified referendum.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of duplicate

Browse Nearby Words

altered
alter ego
alter egos
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Cite this Entry

“Alter ego.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alter%20ego. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alter ego

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alter ego

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