bynames

noun

plural of byname
as in nicknames
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual Thomas Edward Lawrence is better known to most people by his byname, Lawrence of Arabia

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bynames
  1. nicknames
  2. surnames
  3. epithets
Noun
  • In a Mexican family where several women shared the same name, nicknames were inevitable.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • The moon's nicknames, like April's Pink Moon, May's Flower Moon, or June's Strawberry Moon, originated from Native Americans', Colonial Americans', and other cultures' names for the moon.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 July 2026
Definition of nicknames
Noun
  • Last year, those bases reverted to their original names, but with different namesakes who share Confederate surnames.
    — Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • Like most Spanish people, Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, has two surnames — one inherited from his father, another from his mother.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of surnames
Noun
  • The raid drew criticism over separating families, and a group of Idahoans sued, saying officers hurled racial epithets and largely withheld water, food, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 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
Definition of epithets
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.

Browse Nearby Words

byname
bynames
by no means
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Cite this Entry

“Bynames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bynames. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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