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
His nanny was his fierce protector and insulated him from the depredations of Nazis and their enablers, baptizing him and teaching him to handily hurl anti-Jewish epithets to fit in.
—
Ron Kampeas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
But the singer has often said that his time in the group was an education in both music and prejudice, with audiences cheering on the band during performances, and then hurling punches and racial epithets after their shows.
—
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, in a video, praised the post while using a racist epithet in his commentary.
—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Ron Kampeas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
But the singer has often said that his time in the group was an education in both music and prejudice, with audiences cheering on the band during performances, and then hurling punches and racial epithets after their shows.
—
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, in a video, praised the post while using a racist epithet in his commentary.
—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.
—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epithet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithet
Noun
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Few figures are as synonymous with Mexican football as Aguirre, now in his third stint coaching the national team after being in charge for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, but this co-exists with his El Vasco nickname.
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The law, passed in 2024, prohibits K-12 public schools from using any derogatory Native American term for athletic team mascots, names or nicknames.
Noun
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According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
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Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
Noun
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At first, the moniker was meant to represent Congo’s former Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.
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Does the Democratic Party actually need to embrace the moniker of socialism, lean into it?
Noun
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Bluth family at the show's center, while Howard narrated the action with plenty of sarcasm.
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Avoid using silence, sarcasm or strategic distance when direct language would resolve the issue faster.
Noun
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The pilot, identified only by the surname Liu, took off on a solo flight in the two-seat training plane from a general aviation airport in the outskirts of Beijing, the Chaoyang statement said.
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Courts have also been reluctant to treat a surname as property that can be repossessed upon divorce.
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithet. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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