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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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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The Hoosier Dome opened in 1984, mall culture grew as teens and shoppers flocked to Castleton Square and plans for Circle Centre got underway, all while Indy began to outgrow its 'Naptown' nickname.—
Joe Mutascio,
IndyStar,
8 Jan. 2026
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Simpson is a member of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter’s Santa Monica Mountains Task Force trail crew, known often by their nickname, the Trailies.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His modeling and social media career derives much of its power from his notable surname.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
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In the 2021 finalization of their divorce, the two agreed to change the surname of the twins, who were minors at the time, from Davis-Jarrahy to just Jarrahy.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Just a few days earlier in California, a house that had been decorated with lights celebrating Chanukah was riddled with bullets, with the assailant having been heard to yell anti-Jewish epithets.—
Rabbi Steve Roth,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
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The doc has also earned the ire of Chase’s former Community co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, who firmly distanced herself from it and all attempts to reinvestigate Chase’s firing from the show amid accusations of hurling racial epithets.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The cost of the changes to the signage, website and other Kennedy Center monikers is unknown.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
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The jeweler on Monday unveiled its flagship on Rue de la Paix, a move that cements the rebranding revealed in February 2025 that included its current moniker alongside a new tag line and campaign.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Byname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byname. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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