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
But the singer has often said that his time in the group was an education in both music and prejudice, with audiences cheering on the band during performances, and then hurling punches and racial epithets after their shows.
—
Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, in a video, praised the post while using a racist epithet in his commentary.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
The person who shouted the epithet was John Davidson, an activist with Tourette syndrome, who removed himself from the room and later apologized, as did BAFTA and BBC, the show’s broadcaster, which failed to edit out the slur during the broadcast.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, in a video, praised the post while using a racist epithet in his commentary.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
The person who shouted the epithet was John Davidson, an activist with Tourette syndrome, who removed himself from the room and later apologized, as did BAFTA and BBC, the show’s broadcaster, which failed to edit out the slur during the broadcast.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
-
The All Whites, New Zealand’s team nickname, are in their third World Cup and seeking their first victory after going winless in 1982 and 2010.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
-
Her aunt Karen, for example, gave her an Easter basket embroidered with the nickname Shelly; her grandmother intended to give it to her for Easter 1983.—
Ben Brachfeld,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Across the state, officers directed obscenities, insults and threats at students just before or after using physical force, records and video footage show.—
Clare Amari,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
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After Laura snaps one day and threatens to quit after Souria goes too far with her insults, the power shifts abruptly.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Even a serial killer adopted the Zodiac as his moniker.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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That moniker comes from a violent 1967 peasant uprising against oppressive landlords in Naxalbari, a village in the shadow of the Himalayan foothills in northeast India.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Noun
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It could also be implied or even non-verbal, such as sarcasm, eye-rolling or mockery.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
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The brilliant dialogue—full of sarcasm, barbs, resentment, infuriation, competition but also underpinned by love—is so very perfectly sisterly!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Indeed, her surname is first in the new firm.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
28 May 2026
-
In the real world, a married woman who changes her surname obviously remains the same person.—
Hamilton Mann,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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