1. Plural of antonomasia; instances of substituting a proper name with a descriptive epithet or title, or vice versa.
Usage: literary; rhetoric
2. Plural of antonomasia; the use of a common noun or phrase in place of a proper name, or a proper name to denote a general quality or type.
Usage: literary; rhetoric

Examples

• The speaker employed several antonomasias, calling the villain 'the serpent' instead of using his name.
• In classical rhetoric, antonomasias were common devices for adding dignity or contempt to a description.
• The poet's use of antonomasias transformed simple characters into archetypal figures.
• Ancient orators mastered antonomasias to make their arguments more memorable and persuasive.
• The text contains multiple antonomasias, such as 'the Iron Lady' for Margaret Thatcher.
• Students of rhetoric study antonomasias as a key technique in persuasive writing.