1
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
King Richard I of England was given the very laudatory epithet "the Lion-Hearted"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
the school has a strict ban against the use of offensive epithets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epithet
José Escobar, another ambassador leader, shared his disgust of ICE with a four-letter epithet.
—
Charlotte Observer, 24 Nov. 2025
The genus epithet of Polygala comes from the Greek for much (poly) milk (gala) and one of its common names is milkwort.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
In fact, the term itself was an epithet throughout the founding era, a way to describe ignorant and easily deceived popular majorities, perpetually vulnerable to demagogues.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
On his next broadcast, Maher convened guests like Ice Cube and Michael Eric Dyson to call him to task for using the epithet and to explore the issues about its us.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Charlotte Observer, 24 Nov. 2025
The genus epithet of Polygala comes from the Greek for much (poly) milk (gala) and one of its common names is milkwort.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
In fact, the term itself was an epithet throughout the founding era, a way to describe ignorant and easily deceived popular majorities, perpetually vulnerable to demagogues.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
On his next broadcast, Maher convened guests like Ice Cube and Michael Eric Dyson to call him to task for using the epithet and to explore the issues about its us.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
-
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
-
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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In what could be a scene straight out of the official Netflix movie, a comment intended as an insult instead galvanized the troops.—
Natalie Jarvey,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The article does not even state the names of all the candidates in the race, an insult to those who polled higher than Leon.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The spurious designation of Qassem Soleimani as a global terrorist, something long requested by Benjamin Netanyahu, gave the green light for the expansion of the designation to other entities long held off from the moniker out of fear of its implications.—
Séamus Malekafzali,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
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Can an equitable, sustainable and transparent system be established to facilitate athletes monetizing their intellectual property rights, or does the Wild West moniker remain true while boosters and private equity play an outsized role?—
Eddie Edwards Jr,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The video, narrated with dry sarcasm and visible exhaustion, quickly went viral.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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With her signature deadpan sarcasm and round glasses, Daria critiqued suburban life and the insanity of high school popularity contests with wit and honesty.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Previously titled His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, Andrew will now be called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, using the royal family's surname for direct descendants of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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On the left is the crest for Sophia’s mother’s surname, Fullerton.—
Lennie Omalza,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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