EPITHETS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

epithets

noun

plural of epithet

as in nicknames

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"

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as in insults

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 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 epithets The American Civil Liberties Union sued in February, alleging officers hurled racial epithets, acted violently, and largely withheld food, water, bathrooms and medical care. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026 Hochman detailed a number of prosecutions, including the sentence of one man to a life sentence plus seven years with the possibility of parole for a March 23 attack, during which racial epithets were uttered. — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 Social media has teemed with unsavory videos of Argentinean misbehavior in the stadiums, including fans hurling racial epithets at a Black American influencer and showering Egyptians with beer. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026 Mendelsohn also retains Homer’s repetitious epithets for characters that some modern translations—written for the silent reader of the 21st century—have slimmed down. — Chris Moody, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 Since construction at the Eagle Rock site — so nicknamed after a decrepit colonnade — first stalled in 2008, the only thing that accumulated faster than the garbage and graffiti were the epithets from outraged community members. — Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The Chawla said multiple campaign road signs were vandalized with racial epithets in two separate incidents. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 18 May 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for epithets

Noun

Regardless of a brand’s intent, sneakerheads love to coin unofficial nicknames for sneakers and often do so with monikers derived from pop-culture.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
The Irish band — Bono, the Edge, and two other guys who didn't get the memo on cool nicknames — will play at halftime during Netflix's Thanksgiving Eve game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of nicknames

Noun

The incident reportedly started after a group sitting behind McHenry started shouting insults toward Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma about his fiancée, Winnie Harlow.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The debate was somewhat tamer than the two candidates' first faceoff earlier this month, which featured insults and interruptions in virtually every answer.

— Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of insults

Noun

Cricket South Africa said players will take the field with the names of breast cancer fighters or survivors replacing their own surnames on the backs of their shirts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
The couple lived between New York City, Denmark, France, and Tuxedo Park, according to listing agent Richard Ellis, and their surnames inspired the property’s name.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of surnames

Noun

These practices have made some industries a permanent part of the country’s political fabric, and given rise to unflattering monikers like Big Oil or Big Pharma or Big Food.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
The legendary playwright has penned dramatic productions with some of the most popular monikers of all time, including Jessica and Olivia.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of monikers

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epithet

epithets

epitome

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“Epithets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epithets. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of epithets

noun

Example Sentences

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