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
On that day, the mob hurled racist epithets, smoke bombs, and fists at him.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Vice Mayor Darian Martin, who is Black, condemned Urbom’s use of the racial epithet.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
In the right-wing imagination, these women are acting like harpies — an epithet often seen online — when they’re supposed to be helpmeets.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Vice Mayor Darian Martin, who is Black, condemned Urbom’s use of the racial epithet.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
In the right-wing imagination, these women are acting like harpies — an epithet often seen online — when they’re supposed to be helpmeets.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
-
The sweeping structures bear a striking resemblance to the sensory organs sported by members of the insect world, which eventually granted them the nickname of the Antennae Galaxies.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Barn is also a nickname for a house Ciani used to have in Boulder.—
Max Scheinblum,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cyrus said, with the two characters throwing insults at each other constantly.—
Kirsten Chuba,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Droves of supporters commended a thoughtful gesture that, elsewhere on the internet, went over like an insult.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Amid the fallout from the allegations, members of the public quickly called on officials to rename locations that carry his moniker.—
Daniella Silva,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But March Madness has earned that moniker for a reason, too.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
His answer came with a side helping of sarcasm.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kern drew backlash for changing his surname from Hidalgo to Kern ahead of a 1998 congressional run, which opponents called a ploy to appeal to White voters.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
26 Mar. 2026
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The race saw on-again off-again challenger Juan Beto Ruiz ultimately removed from the ballot due to a missing maternal surname on his nomination petitions.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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