misnomer

noun

Definition of misnomernext
as in moniker
a name that is wrong or not proper or appropriate "International Airport" is something of a misnomer, since almost all the arriving and departing flights are local.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of misnomer Family time was no longer a misnomer chez Bixby. — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 Rare earths aren’t particularly scarce in the earth’s crust — the name is a misnomer. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026 The misnomer has defined, and confined, the painter’s legacy in the nearly two centuries after her death. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 May 2026 The Heron Rookery name is a bit of a misnomer—the huge population of great blue herons that once nested here has moved on in recent years. — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for misnomer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misnomer
  1. moniker
  2. nickname
  3. nomenclature
  4. diminutive
  5. designation
Noun
  • At this early juncture, the O’Hare Flyer needs a Chicago train daddy, to borrow the moniker famously given to the British transit executive Andy Byford, who now is leading the overhaul of New York’s Penn Station.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike Pluto's naming, when the public suggested monikers for the new planet, the public didn't participate in the scientific process of its recategorization.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of moniker
Noun
  • Flair, whose nickname was The Nature Boy, is one of the all-time great former wrestlers.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The new whisky series is called Moments from The Glorious Playground, a reference to the nickname for the area surrounding Gleneagles.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of nickname
Noun
  • Many women-forward organizations are rightfully changing their nomenclature and their audience to be inclusive of non-binary and trans women, because that’s a whole other subsection that is often more ignored.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Public-health officials coined a nonjudgmental nomenclature that persists to this day.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of nomenclature
Noun
  • The more common nickname, El Mencho, is said to be a diminutive of his first name, Nemesio.
    — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Noun
  • Make sure estate documents and beneficiary designations reflect your wishes, including charitable giving.
    — Angie O’Leary, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Fly-fishers will find an extensive stretch of Gold Medal Water (a designation for quality and trout density) in Colorado, with access to browns, brookies, cutthroats, and rainbow trout.
    — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of designation

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Cite this Entry

“Misnomer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misnomer. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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