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
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
Because the surrogates weren’t legally related to the children, the authorities couldn’t share much with them.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
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
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
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
The governor dispatched surrogates by helicopter to deliver news to some Democrats that their services were no longer needed.
—Christopher Cooper / Made By History, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
In May 2023, Adams was snubbed when left off the list of Biden’s reelection surrogates.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 4 Dec. 2024
Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 13 Feb. 2026
Because the surrogates weren’t legally related to the children, the authorities couldn’t share much with them.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
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
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
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
The governor dispatched surrogates by helicopter to deliver news to some Democrats that their services were no longer needed.
—Christopher Cooper / Made By History, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
In May 2023, Adams was snubbed when left off the list of Biden’s reelection surrogates.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 4 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrogates
Noun
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Milk or milk substitutes commonly used in overnight oats also contribute nutrients like calcium and vitamin D, which support bone health, muscle function and nerve signaling.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering what’s changing in how fashion is made, scaled or engineered from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
However, if there’s a problem that requires someone (whether human or robot) to travel to the site to conduct repairs or component replacements, that cannot be fixed in space.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Feb. 2026
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So precarious is the species’ survival that the eggs were exchanged for fake replacements while the real ones were incubated indoors.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Momentum measures point higher across time frames for South Africa proxies.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
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Because Secretary Rubio said anything meaningful would also have to involve ballistic missiles and your support for proxies in the region.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surrogates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrogates. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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