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
On that day, the mob hurled racist epithets, smoke bombs, and fists at him.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Vice Mayor Darian Martin, who is Black, condemned Urbom’s use of the racial epithet.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
In the right-wing imagination, these women are acting like harpies — an epithet often seen online — when they’re supposed to be helpmeets.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Vice Mayor Darian Martin, who is Black, condemned Urbom’s use of the racial epithet.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
In the right-wing imagination, these women are acting like harpies — an epithet often seen online — when they’re supposed to be helpmeets.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
-
The sweeping structures bear a striking resemblance to the sensory organs sported by members of the insect world, which eventually granted them the nickname of the Antennae Galaxies.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Barn is also a nickname for a house Ciani used to have in Boulder.—
Max Scheinblum,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Laughs and insults, all expressed at a high volume, were guaranteed to follow.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The fan repeatedly shouted insults at Punk while pledging allegiance to Reigns.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That rare moniker is earned only when audiences track and fuel a film’s cultural staying power over time.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
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Despite the moniker, the silvery orb will appear in its usual brilliant gray hue.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Goldberg responded with open sarcasm and frustration.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
That’s a heavy dose of sarcasm for those who overreacted to Judge’s first few at-bats of a long, grueling season.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
From there, Harris took on his adoptive parents’ surname.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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According to a Wall Street Journal report, the surname of a survivor was left unredacted, enabling news outlets to identify her.—
Danielle Powell Cobb,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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