as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
Thomas Edward Lawrence is better known to most people by his byname, Lawrence of Arabia
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of byname
Robert the Wise was a good teacher — and, as his byname suggests, a good role model.
—
Anne Thériault, Longreads, 3 July 2018
Anne Thériault, Longreads, 3 July 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byname
Noun
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For three quarters, The Dark Side – the intimidating nickname bestowed upon this group – held Drake Maye and the Patriots offense to 78 yards.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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During an annular solar eclipse, the moon covers a majority of the sun, leaving a distinct ring of light, hence the nickname 'ring of fire' eclipse.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In sports, some siblings are so accomplished that they can be recognized by only their surnames.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
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Saint-Wulfstan is a very rare surname.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On that day, the mob hurled racist epithets, smoke bombs, and fists at him.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
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Vice Mayor Darian Martin, who is Black, condemned Urbom’s use of the racial epithet.—
Theo Karantsalis,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These are the monikers most common to Gen Z, and today's parents tend to either look to the past or totally new-to-them options.—
Anna Earl,
Parents,
8 Feb. 2026
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The growing presence of the Persian diaspora in Westwood earned it the moniker Tehrangeles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Byname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byname. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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