as in designation
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1
as in calling
to give a name to
decided to name her new puppy "Bubbles"
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in specifying
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically
I don't want to name anyone in particular, but someone in this room fiddled with my car's radio
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nominating
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty
was named the provost of the university
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in selecting
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
you don't like my offer? Just name your price
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in setting
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority
you name the date and I'll make sure I'm there
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in choosing
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration
they finally named a date for the wedding
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of naming
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Lamont Robinson, 4th, suggested the idea of an honorary street naming to the BMOA.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The team is trying to sell naming rights to the stadium, for example, and its association with the national team and the World Cup could be a big help in that.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
The naming system combines the series type, security level, and production year.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 25 May 2026
Soon there’s a birthday party, Valentine’s Day, a brit bat (aka a baby-naming ceremony), Purim (a celebration of Jewish deliverance casually referred to as Jewish Halloween), and a game night at a beer garden.
—Hugh Hart, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
Even a naming-rights deal has eluded the London Stadium to date.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 21 May 2026
That gap in awareness and accurate naming is what drove researchers to push for the change after more than a decade of work.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Her daughter called him Chicken Nugget, a favorite naming convention of hers.
—Alina Hartounian, NPR, 18 May 2026
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
This response would have been noticeably incongruous with the time, and it would certainly be read as the intentions with which it was likely written, as naming a kind of politics.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Some of these videos include two people getting Dreamz’s name tattooed on their inner lip and even one family sharing about naming their child after him.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
An engineering lead can review spending without reconciling three providers’ naming conventions.
—Udam Dewaraja, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Without naming names but easy enough to deduce, Joan Baez has let her disappointment known about the morals of some of the most popular women in the music industry.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Washington's public language was vague about his faith, never explicitly naming Jesus Christ.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 May 2026
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved naming the intersection in Beeks'.
—Beret Leone, CBS News, 26 May 2026
In the days and hours before naming his England squad for this summer’s World Cup, Thomas Tuchel made around 50 phone calls.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Noun
Besides its unique naming concept, An’s is known for the quality and creativity of its gelato flavors.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Lamont Robinson, 4th, suggested the idea of an honorary street naming to the BMOA.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The team is trying to sell naming rights to the stadium, for example, and its association with the national team and the World Cup could be a big help in that.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
The naming system combines the series type, security level, and production year.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 25 May 2026
Soon there’s a birthday party, Valentine’s Day, a brit bat (aka a baby-naming ceremony), Purim (a celebration of Jewish deliverance casually referred to as Jewish Halloween), and a game night at a beer garden.
—Hugh Hart, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
Even a naming-rights deal has eluded the London Stadium to date.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 21 May 2026
That gap in awareness and accurate naming is what drove researchers to push for the change after more than a decade of work.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Her daughter called him Chicken Nugget, a favorite naming convention of hers.
—Alina Hartounian, NPR, 18 May 2026
Verb
Others, however, said naming the animal after the president was inappropriate.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
This response would have been noticeably incongruous with the time, and it would certainly be read as the intentions with which it was likely written, as naming a kind of politics.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Some of these videos include two people getting Dreamz’s name tattooed on their inner lip and even one family sharing about naming their child after him.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
An engineering lead can review spending without reconciling three providers’ naming conventions.
—Udam Dewaraja, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Without naming names but easy enough to deduce, Joan Baez has let her disappointment known about the morals of some of the most popular women in the music industry.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Washington's public language was vague about his faith, never explicitly naming Jesus Christ.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 May 2026
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved naming the intersection in Beeks'.
—Beret Leone, CBS News, 26 May 2026
In the days and hours before naming his England squad for this summer’s World Cup, Thomas Tuchel made around 50 phone calls.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naming
Noun
-
County type designations are based on a New York Times analysis of data from the Census, the National Center for Health Statistics, and other research.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
The single-family subdivision Selected by Jeff Speck Single-family zoning covers more of this country’s livable urban land than any other designation.—
Time,
Time,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Is the robot system better at calling balls and strikes than humans?—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
Wildmon began calling Penland almost daily, asking if Universal was playing them.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Calfee tandems are custom-built, with consumers specifying nearly all components, at an average price of $20k.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
1 June 2026
-
The attacks took place near Jiyeh, about 12 miles south of the capital, Lebanon's National News Agency said, without specifying if there were casualties.—
Khaled Wassef,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Democrats did manage to avoid nominating a controversial pick in the somewhat competitive 35th Congressional District.—
Megan Pratz,
NPR,
27 May 2026
-
Stewart’s future is timely because Connecticut Republicans will be nominating a candidate for governor at the state party’s convention at the Mohegan Sun casino on Saturday.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Look for resistant varieties when selecting tomato plants for the garden.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
Their tendency for selecting innovative fabrics and producing low quantities meant most consumers were priced out of wearing their designs—a mindset that Herrebrugh and Botter said was born from their formal training and has evolved with more experience.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Hulst setting a hard pace from the gun with Serna trying to hold on long enough to outkick him in the end.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
With a record-setting IPO in just a few weeks, SpaceX saw its rival in a contest to put astronauts on the lunar surface go up in flames, reinforcing its dominance in the space race and its primacy in NASA’s plans to go back to the moon.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
When the fabric is right, your comfort is sure to follow — but choosing pieces that are also work-appropriate is trickier.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
The lack of clarity makes choosing a company potentially confusing for patients, and the medical profession is partly to blame, said Jamy Ard, an obesity doctor and researcher at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Paxton's nomination comes three years after many Texas House Republicans voted to impeach him.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The nomination requires Senate approval, but the career diplomat’s potential departure from a volatile Haiti after only a year comes as the Caribbean nation prepares to take some of its most consequential decisions since his arrival.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Naming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naming. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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