1
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
King Richard I of England was given the very laudatory epithet "the Lion-Hearted"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
the school has a strict ban against the use of offensive epithets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epithet
Police said an investigation revealed the man had been sitting in the plaza when the woman approached him and without provocation spat on him while yelling a racial epithet directed at Black people.
—
Jason Green, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
The word has become an epithet for garish, reckless growth — but to fix the housing crisis, the country needs more of it.
—Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
This species has no fragrance; its lavender appellation simply acknowledges its flower color while its rosemary epithet indicates its seacoast habitat.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
More than a decade after Breaking Bad ended, Aaron Paul still can’t escape his character’s signature epithet.
—John Russell, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Jason Green, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
The word has become an epithet for garish, reckless growth — but to fix the housing crisis, the country needs more of it.
—Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
This species has no fragrance; its lavender appellation simply acknowledges its flower color while its rosemary epithet indicates its seacoast habitat.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
More than a decade after Breaking Bad ended, Aaron Paul still can’t escape his character’s signature epithet.
—John Russell, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
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McCallum earned his nickname by repeatedly punching the body and head.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
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It’s even named after his childhood nickname, Kurky.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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They were quickly showered with boos and insults, along with various food items and beverages, including my mother’s large Pepsi.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
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Students understood the insult – and its historical sting.—
Simon Montlake,
Christian Science Monitor,
16 May 2025
Noun
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The words were names, surnames, dates, cities and towns, sometimes with illustrations for reference, according to the release.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
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And that’s without mentioning him taking on his team’s name as his surname.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Gravely lived up to that moniker Friday with a walk-off single for Santa Margarita in a 5-4 win over Los Alamitos in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals at Santa Margarita High.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
23 May 2025
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That painting, Past Times (1997), appeared in Marshall’s traveling retrospective and was won by Combs, also known by the moniker Diddy, at Sotheby’s.—
Alex Greenberger for ARTNews,
Robb Report,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Such sarcasm ridicules six-figure tuition, room, and board.—
Michael Serazio,
Time,
28 May 2025
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My follow up was meant to use sarcasm to make a serious point: The First Amendment provisions on religious liberty were written by Madison to prohibit state encroachment on religion, which is exactly what this bill does.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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