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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of epithet
While the epithet is sometimes attributed to the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Ronda has maintained a romantic aura for centuries, drawing creatives like Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles to its mountaintop setting.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
Just a few days earlier in California, a house that had been decorated with lights celebrating Chanukah was riddled with bullets, with the assailant having been heard to yell anti-Jewish epithets.
—Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The doc has also earned the ire of Chase’s former Community co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, who firmly distanced herself from it and all attempts to reinvestigate Chase’s firing from the show amid accusations of hurling racial epithets.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
The president’s epithet didn’t come out of thin air.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
Just a few days earlier in California, a house that had been decorated with lights celebrating Chanukah was riddled with bullets, with the assailant having been heard to yell anti-Jewish epithets.
—Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The doc has also earned the ire of Chase’s former Community co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, who firmly distanced herself from it and all attempts to reinvestigate Chase’s firing from the show amid accusations of hurling racial epithets.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
The president’s epithet didn’t come out of thin air.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
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For three quarters, The Dark Side – the intimidating nickname bestowed upon this group – held Drake Maye and the Patriots offense to 78 yards.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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During an annular solar eclipse, the moon covers a majority of the sun, leaving a distinct ring of light, hence the nickname 'ring of fire' eclipse.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The final insult from State Farm came just hours after Karen Powers died, early on the morning of August 2, 2023.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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In an appearance on Fox News, the Trump-supporting singer bashed the choice of Bunny, saying the performance was an insult to the MAGA movement.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These are the monikers most common to Gen Z, and today's parents tend to either look to the past or totally new-to-them options.—
Anna Earl,
Parents,
8 Feb. 2026
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The growing presence of the Persian diaspora in Westwood earned it the moniker Tehrangeles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, sitcoms like Friends marked a movement toward irony in comedy with its trademark tongue-in-cheek banter and sarcasm, Thompson explains.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
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Eby quipped with her usual dry sarcasm.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In sports, some siblings are so accomplished that they can be recognized by only their surnames.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
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Saint-Wulfstan is a very rare surname.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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