noun
- a descriptive word or phrase expressing a quality or characteristic of a person or thing
- an abusive or contemptuous word or phrase used to describe someone
Usage: often offensive
Examples
- Homer often used epithets like ‘swift-footed Achilles’ in his epic poems.
- The phrase ‘the Great’ became an epithet for Alexander.
- Richard the Lionheart earned his epithet through his military prowess.
- The angry customer hurled epithets at the store manager.
- Racial epithets have no place in civilized discourse.
- The poet’s use of epithets helped readers visualize the characters.
- She was known by the epithet ‘Iron Lady’ throughout her political career.