Definition of aliasnext
1
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual a soccer player whom everyone knows as "Mayhem," her adopted alias in the sports world that was created from her surname

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2
as in pseudonym
a fictitious or assumed name the English author Eric Blair, better known under the alias of George Orwell

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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 alias Investigators said two operatives from Russia’s military traveled to Britain under aliases, smeared the poison on the front door of Skripal’s home and boarded a flight back to Moscow. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 Herrling, who was also known under other aliases, including Carrie Phenix, was living in the Beverly Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles and initially appeared to be a good, polite neighbor. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026 Evans operated under multiple aliases – including Jolene Travis, Joy John, and Joy Paige – in part because of prior convictions for psychic‑fraud schemes. Doug Myers, CBS News, 10 June 2026 But Cage is far from the only big name to have been born with a different one, and sometimes celebs choose new aliases for reasons a bit more intriguing than simply being a nepo baby. Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for alias
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alias
Noun
  • The character’s nickname, Big Pussy, is rumored to have originated during his time as a cat burglar.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Thankfully renamed from the original French nickname of Hog Island, this sprawling island park is bigger and older than Central Park.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • Some of these up-and-coming filmmakers, however, create cinematic experiences not under their legal names, but pseudonyms.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • Pérez is using a pseudonym out of fear of immigration retaliation.
    Daniella Silva, NBC news, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • The sighting comes after Suri, who is studying musical theater at Carnegie Melon’s School of Drama, legally removed Cruise as her last name in Pennsylvania and changed her surname to Noelle, Katie’s middle name.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The decision to adopt it in the place of Cruise’s surname might suggest a desire to honor her mother.
    Alessia Ferri, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • The first Audi to bear the number 9 in its moniker, the full-size model is the automaker’s largest yet in the category.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 July 2026
  • When Yeong-gwang dies during his and Agent Kim’s first mission to South Korea, betrayed by the North Korean agency that sent them, Agent Kim takes on the moniker.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • Communism is so dead in most of the world that using ‘communist’ as a political epithet sounds almost quaint.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Alias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alias. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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