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
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
The reply of my friend and hunting companion was one of those quaint, rasping epithets which only a cowman can manage when everything has gone wrong.
—Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
There were reports of death threats, along with racial epithets, directed at him.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2025
Lincoln Heights resident Eric Ruffin said at Tuesday night's village meeting that one of the demonstrators called him a racial epithet.
—Antonia Hylton, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
John Russell, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
The reply of my friend and hunting companion was one of those quaint, rasping epithets which only a cowman can manage when everything has gone wrong.
—Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
There were reports of death threats, along with racial epithets, directed at him.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2025
Lincoln Heights resident Eric Ruffin said at Tuesday night's village meeting that one of the demonstrators called him a racial epithet.
—Antonia Hylton, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
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The rocky bluffs make the waters particularly treacherous, earning the tip of Door County a wild nickname: Death’s Door.—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
AFAR Media,
21 May 2025
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But few nicknames reach the height of the headless chicken monster.—
Amanda Kooser,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
People hurled insults as the police started taking down the barricades.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2025
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Sarandos, playing a cheeky version of himself, delivers a sharp line about contractual award show shout-outs before signing off with an insult.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Out of the four couples living in London with the surname, Steggle believes only the playwright and his wife could have afforded to live in the relatively prosperous area.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
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The new pope’s name, as well as his baptismal names, will be translated into Latin in the announcement but his former surname will remain in his native language.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Noun
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The directing pair, who also work under the ‘Similar But Different’ moniker, started out in commercials and music videos.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
14 May 2025
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Tickets for the one-day music festival headlined and created by Ryan Raddon, who goes by the moniker Kaskade, are on sale now at sunsoakedofficial.com.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
9 May 2025
Noun
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There’s tenderness and frustration, playfulness and sarcasm; respect and fatigue.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
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TikTok viewers chimed in with a mix of sarcasm, solidarity, and surprisingly creative suggestions.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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