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"
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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
Musk and Trump’s potent political alliance seemed to meet a dramatic end a month ago in an exchange of blistering epithets, with Trump threatening to go after Musk’s business interests, and Musk calling for Trump’s impeachment.
—
Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
If Welch’s considerable foibles have been dropped from the legend, the timeline bungled, the alcoholism and probable mental illness minimized, the use of racial epithets and the overt misogyny ignored, his death fetishized into a form of transfiguration . . .
—Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 26 June 2025
Kathy Hochul summed it up with a single barnyard epithet
There is the thicket, and there is the path.
—Jamie Malanowski, Air Mail, 21 June 2025
In Huntington Beach, a Republican stronghold, opposing crowds of pro- and anti-Trump protesters faced off on opposite corners of the intersection at Main and Pacific Coast Highway, shouting epithets.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
If Welch’s considerable foibles have been dropped from the legend, the timeline bungled, the alcoholism and probable mental illness minimized, the use of racial epithets and the overt misogyny ignored, his death fetishized into a form of transfiguration . . .
—Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 26 June 2025
Kathy Hochul summed it up with a single barnyard epithet
There is the thicket, and there is the path.
—Jamie Malanowski, Air Mail, 21 June 2025
In Huntington Beach, a Republican stronghold, opposing crowds of pro- and anti-Trump protesters faced off on opposite corners of the intersection at Main and Pacific Coast Highway, shouting epithets.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
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Aside from being a fruit and a nickname for New Zealanders, Kiwi is also a brand name of New Zealand-style bacon that's also popular in Australia.—
Keith Pandolfi,
The Enquirer,
12 Aug. 2025
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His nickname for me, sometimes, is Ice Queen, which is vaguely offensive.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
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According to a cell phone video, obtained through CAIR, the man shouted several Islamophobic insults, including insults attacking Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This unusual celebrity baby name is technically a Japanese surname, but that didn’t stop Skai Jackson from bestowing it upon her baby girl.—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
8 Aug. 2025
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Cruise for years has reportedly been estranged from their 19-year-old daughter, Suri, who dropped her father’s surname last year.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
29 July 2025
Noun
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And should Cal Raleigh, the breakout MLB star with a nickname beloved by baseball fans, be profiting off his Big Dumper moniker?—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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It's also eliminated seven street names, either for new monikers or because the streets themselves no longer exist.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ensuring fairness and avoiding bias in AI systems is paramount, as algorithms can inadvertently amplify discriminatory patterns from training data or misinterpret cultural nuances and sarcasm.—
Anees Ali Khan,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Someone constantly uses sarcasm to undermine suggestions without offering alternatives.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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