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.
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Recent Examples of surrogates
Southern white rhinos were chosen as surrogates because they are closely related to northern white rhinos.
—
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
That played out over the weekend through celebrity surrogates.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Olson went on to say that the Holy Father, like his predecessors, consistently condemns acts of terrorism, including those sanctioned by Iran and its surrogates in the Middle East.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
The Republican National Committee has largely avoided the war in talking points issued to surrogates over the last month.
—Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
But the decision to start it was his alone, and no amount of spin from his surrogates should obscure this fact.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Surrogacy helps people from all backgrounds build a family, and experts in the field say that the myth that surrogates are exploited is not accurate.
—Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 13 Feb. 2026
Under different circumstances, the surrogates might not have had much in common.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Cuban was one of the most visible campaign surrogates, especially from the business world, traversing the country and promoting Harris’s economic proposals.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
That played out over the weekend through celebrity surrogates.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Olson went on to say that the Holy Father, like his predecessors, consistently condemns acts of terrorism, including those sanctioned by Iran and its surrogates in the Middle East.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
The Republican National Committee has largely avoided the war in talking points issued to surrogates over the last month.
—Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
But the decision to start it was his alone, and no amount of spin from his surrogates should obscure this fact.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Surrogacy helps people from all backgrounds build a family, and experts in the field say that the myth that surrogates are exploited is not accurate.
—Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 13 Feb. 2026
Under different circumstances, the surrogates might not have had much in common.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Cuban was one of the most visible campaign surrogates, especially from the business world, traversing the country and promoting Harris’s economic proposals.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrogates
Noun
-
When Ponce and Brizuela played in the World Cup, there was no controversy because both were substitutes, and Brizuela’s nationality was only revealed after the tournament.—
Carlos Rodriguez,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Although schools are open with substitutes, the strike has consumed about 6% of the academic year.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Caltrans has begun partial daytime closures for electrical work and component replacements on the 90-year-old Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
4 May 2026
-
The company's owner offered help, ordering staff to ship replacements from ES Windows' manufacturing complex in Barranquilla, Colombia.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Shell and Maersk will be closely watched as direct proxies for the energy and shipping disruption.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
-
Starmer and other officials have repeatedly warned that hostile states were intent on using proxies to conduct attacks in the UK.—
April 30,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surrogates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrogates. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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