as in substitutes
a person or thing that fulfills the role of someone or something else
The children's aunt acted as a surrogate for their late mother.
Related Words
Relevance
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 surrogates
Known as StellFoundry, the new project focuses on replacing lengthy calculations in the design process with types of digital models, or surrogates, that provide rough calculation estimates.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
While some of its surrogates, such as Hezbollah, have been significantly weakened by Israel over the past two years, others remain heavily armed.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Her father, Arthur Liu, was a single dad to five kids, all born with the help of surrogates.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
When pregnancies don't go as planned and medical costs mount, women who sign on as surrogates can be left owing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Several former Surro Connections employees have been working to connect clients and surrogates to other agencies and organizations, which have in turn stepped up to help, with some offering pro bono services.
—Alexandra Chaidez, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
Both campaigns are leaning on big-name surrogates to boost turnout in a tightening race.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Paper, after paper, after paper shows that more and more people are turning from real-life passions to digital surrogates.
—Big Think, 26 Nov. 2025
Her surrogates have been far less subtle.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
While some of its surrogates, such as Hezbollah, have been significantly weakened by Israel over the past two years, others remain heavily armed.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Her father, Arthur Liu, was a single dad to five kids, all born with the help of surrogates.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
When pregnancies don't go as planned and medical costs mount, women who sign on as surrogates can be left owing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Several former Surro Connections employees have been working to connect clients and surrogates to other agencies and organizations, which have in turn stepped up to help, with some offering pro bono services.
—Alexandra Chaidez, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
Both campaigns are leaning on big-name surrogates to boost turnout in a tightening race.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Paper, after paper, after paper shows that more and more people are turning from real-life passions to digital surrogates.
—Big Think, 26 Nov. 2025
Her surrogates have been far less subtle.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrogates
Noun
-
Clean energy systems are not just lower-carbon substitutes for fossil fuels.—
Maria Mendiluce,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In Mapleton Public Schools, 66 teachers called out, and district officials were able to fill most of the absences with substitutes, Johnson said.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Boeing has been working on replacements, but the program has faced a series of delays.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
As CinemaCon was getting underway in the spring, Bloomberg ran an audacious piece that Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav was interviewing the duo’s replacements.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
However, trial creators, researchers, and proxies have thought through how those experiences could shape expectations, study design, and clinical decisions.—
Ian Reardon,
STAT,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Using only final outcomes—like edit rates or acceptance ratios—as proxies for engagement is insufficient.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surrogates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrogates. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
