bynames

noun

plural of byname
as in nicknames
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bynames
  1. nicknames
  2. surnames
  3. epithets
Noun
  • His nicknames usually reflect his role as a catalyst—The Initiator, The Originator, The Godfather—yet less so his ingenuity and down-home dedication.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Regardless of a brand’s intent, sneakerheads love to coin unofficial nicknames for sneakers and often do so with monikers derived from pop-culture.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of nicknames
Noun
  • Contemporary observers, including one 20th-century American rabbi, noted that many Black Jamaicans bore Jewish surnames and took pride in their heritage.
    — Zachary Kranc, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Cricket South Africa said players will take the field with the names of breast cancer fighters or survivors replacing their own surnames on the backs of their shirts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of surnames
Noun
  • The American Civil Liberties Union sued in February, alleging officers hurled racial epithets, acted violently, and largely withheld food, water, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Hochman detailed a number of prosecutions, including the sentence of one man to a life sentence plus seven years with the possibility of parole for a March 23 attack, during which racial epithets were uttered.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of epithets
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.

Browse Nearby Words

byname
bynames
by no means
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Cite this Entry

“Bynames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bynames. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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