as in epithet
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
his wavy hair earned him the nickname "Curly" early in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nickname
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Over the season, the serial killer nicknamed the New York Ripper had been hinted at.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 26 Sep. 2025
One of the most common varieties has white and green stripes, which has led to a Zebra plant nickname.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nickname
Noun
Inspired by Medrano’s collections of Players magazines—a ’70s publication often nicknamed the Black Playboy—the first issue reclaimed Black sensuality with a cast of women of all body shapes (and nail lengths) from Medrano’s home city, New York.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Over the season, the serial killer nicknamed the New York Ripper had been hinted at.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
While this wouldn’t be the first time a beloved regional dish adopted a somewhat insensitive nickname for the woman who invented it, the balas in question are almost certainly beans, not actual bullets.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 26 Sep. 2025
One of the most common varieties has white and green stripes, which has led to a Zebra plant nickname.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nickname
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nickname
Noun
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Use chapter titles or epithets to set up what’s coming.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
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On his next broadcast, Maher convened guests like Ice Cube and Michael Eric Dyson to call him to task for using the epithet and to explore the issues about its us.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Since starting his production career in 2008, Walter — better known by his moniker, Cirkut — has been behind some of this century’s biggest hits, helping to write and produce massive singles for Rihanna, Kesha, The Weeknd and dozens more throughout the 2010s.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
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Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate are now wrestling under different monikers as part of their new masked gimmick.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, state lawmakers in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Illinois moved to establish state holidays in Kirk’s honor, while proposals in Arizona and Florida would rename highways after him.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
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After commending leaders for their work, the president spoke of changes being made at the Pentagon, including the decision to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And many share the last name Patel, a common surname in the region.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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Finlay was her mother's maiden name, and the surname for her famous grandmother, Marjorie Finlay.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nearly every major polling outfit miscalled the 2016 Presidential race.—
Jill Lepore,
The New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2020
Verb
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In some cases, police and lawyers inflict further harm by misgendering and misnaming victims.—
Kristin Lam,
USA TODAY,
20 Nov. 2019
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In the course of the initiative, Nigel Jeffries, MOLA’s ceramics specialist, has come to believe that witch bottles may have not only been miscategorized but misnamed: these bottles were likely medical objects, rather than magical ones.—
Geoff Manaugh,
The New Yorker,
31 Oct. 2019
Verb
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Sadayuki had specified as such in his will.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Burr said the restrictions on what comedians could say had been softened by the festival after some back and forth (Burr didn’t specify with whom).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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They are denoted with an asterisk in the minimum and maximum tuition columns.—
Rachel Wegner,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
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This denotes an analytical and patient personality.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nickname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nickname. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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