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
There is no stronger epithet in Albany than the charge of being weak.
—
Paul Francis, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Paul Francis, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
-
She’s guarded, gives her co-workers obnoxious nicknames, and is always ready with a snarky comment.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The French newspaper has given him various nicknames during the past four decades, tracing the arc of his public reputation.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are comic insults and lines of great beauty.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The president often hurled insults at Bezos and his ownership of The Washington Post, as well as his tax record.—
Annie Palmer,Justin Papp,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Jaquan Wright is known as Two Skin, a moniker that nods to his vitiligo skin disorder.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Boise State University students will have to get used to calling one building on campus by a new moniker.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Though dramatic at its core, this revival infuses a levity and sarcasm that alleviate much of its heaviness.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Roboz was a Hungarianized version of her surname, though still considered Jewish in origin.—
Marcy Thompson,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The top five American surnames — Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones — remained unchanged from 2010 to 2020, but Asian surnames surged to become the fastest-growing in the decade.—
Mike Schneider,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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