alter ego

noun

ˌȯl-tər-ˈē-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce alter ego (audio)
Definition of alter egonext
1
as in friend
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another over the years the state's other senator became his alter ego as well as his political ally

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in image
something or someone that strongly resembles another the hero of the novel is clearly the author's alter ego, right down to his receding hairline and middle-aged paunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alter ego In this alternate timeline, as the clip previews, the webslinger’s origin story features a mentorship by Norman Osborn (of Oscorp fame), the alter ego to bitter enemy Green Goblin, instead of Tony Stark. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 There are also hundreds of his own charcoal drawings and oil paintings, most of which are of Dolores, his female alter ego. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026 The Weeknd brought his After Hours alter ego straight to the 2020 VMAs in a bright red blazer, black shirt and trousers, leather gloves, and black-and-white dress shoes. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 27 Sep. 2026 Norman Cook’s dancefloor alter ego will visit these parts in March 2027 for seven tour dates across Fremantle, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alter ego
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alter ego
  1. friend
  2. image
  3. buddy
  4. twin
  5. picture
  6. replica
  7. clone
  8. duplicate
Noun
  • But two years ago, Gyles Brandreth, an author and friend of Christopher's, traveled to New York as an emissary of Queen Camilla hoping to arrange an anniversary stay at Buckingham Palace for the 105-year-old fleecy emigres.
    — STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Lee recruited a friend to help move the box to her bedroom, but the setup itself took less than 10 minutes.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of friend
Noun
  • Aljafari is recognized for his distinctive cinematic practice exploring memory, history, identity and the politics of images.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than embrace the provocative image associated with some of her early roles, Portman maintained a more reserved public image.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of image
Noun
  • Here for work the next couple of days and possibly have Wednesday and Thursday night open if my buddy can’t make it into town for work as might have to be in Alabama instead.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Louis-Dreyfus plays Polly Wyeth, a staunch California Republican in the mold of her buddy Nancy Reagan.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of buddy
Noun
  • The twins pleaded not guilty and have denied the allegations through their attorneys.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The twins, Dallas, a girl, and Tyson, a boy, were 18 months old.
    — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of twin
Noun
  • As the Chicago meningococcal outbreak illustrates, health officials need a complete picture to protect people from disease and other threats.
    — Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, Raad is best known for his own method of fabulation, marrying stories and pictures, imaginations and histories.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of picture
Noun
  • Later, however, a faithful replica, also called the Atlantic, was built.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 25 Oct. 2026
  • That team, fittingly enough, will be honored during the Hurricanes’ game on Saturday against Pittsburgh, with the current team wearing replica jerseys to recognize the group.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of replica
Noun
  • Like Avril Lavigne and Jim Carrey, Selena Gomez has received her fair share of celebrity-clone-replacement allegations from online conspiracy theorists.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Since its earliest days, the video game industry has been built on developers creating clones of competing games, with varying levels of originality and varying levels of enforcement from game platforms.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of clone
Noun
  • Out of the 20,000 names on the list, only 7,035 had addresses in Los Angeles County and some were duplicates, according to a separate Tuesday court filing by Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The Election Commission and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration deny the allegations and say the revision is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of duplicate

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altered
alter ego
alter egos
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Cite this Entry

“Alter ego.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alter%20ego. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alter ego

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