alter ego

noun

ˌȯl-tər-ˈē-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce alter ego (audio)
Definition of alter egonext
1
as in friend
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another over the years the state's other senator became his alter ego as well as his political ally

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in image
something or someone that strongly resembles another the hero of the novel is clearly the author's alter ego, right down to his receding hairline and middle-aged paunch

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 alter ego Sydney Sweeney is turning up the heat with her superhero alter ego. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The viral moment started with an Instagram Reel O'Donnell shared on July 28, in which her alter ego, Chanty, simply introduces herself to the camera. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Cage plays private investigator Ben Riley, a man who has long abandoned his alter ego. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026 Much like his onscreen alter ego, Walmsley was a musician himself. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alter ego
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alter ego
  1. friend
  2. image
  3. buddy
  4. twin
  5. picture
  6. replica
  7. clone
  8. duplicate
Noun
  • Her Steel Magnolias costars Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field also penned emotional tributes, as well as her friends Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett and Billy Ray Cyrus.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The first is something Panthea Parker, a headache become corporeal, brings up at a jewelry event hosted by her friend Queenie.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of friend
Noun
  • Following Abloh’s death in November 2021, Kamara was appointed as art and image director and presented his first show, Spring/Summer 2023, in Paris that year.
    — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The telescope’s first images are expected in the beginning months of 2027.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of image
Noun
  • Another buddy, Steven Spielberg, also supplied some intimate footage.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Mel might be a disaster with her loud mouth and impolite antics, but her over-the-top meddling does her buddies some good.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of buddy
Noun
  • Prosecutors believe he was killed because of ongoing strife with his former wife, Shanna Gardner, over the parenting of their twins.
    — Ed White, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • On a recent day, Ramadhan’s oldest child, not even 3, kissed the twins on the cheeks and recognized a photo of their mother.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of twin
Noun
  • This picture shows signage of cross-border fast fashion e-commerce company SHEIN.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • One picture in the announcement included a snap of a baby onesie, a positive pregnancy test and a sonogram strip.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of picture
Noun
  • Today, replicas of various degrees of accuracy are readily available.
    — David Szondy August 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • After a project is complete, actors must sign off and be paid the equivalent of an in-person performance if their replica is used.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of replica
Noun
  • The school is now putting AI versions of its faculty to work in a $699 online startup bootcamp, where aspiring founders can rehearse investor pitches, sales calls, and board meetings—all with AI clones of Harvard instructors.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • If a service is easy to copy, many clones appear and competition grows.
    — Filip Borcov, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of clone
Noun
  • Application streamlining, like preventing duplicates and simplifying the online system, may also help.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • While the original 29 code talkers who created the unbreakable code received Congressional Gold Medals, subsequent Code Talker graduates received the silver duplicate.
    — Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of duplicate

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altered
alter ego
alter egos
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Cite this Entry

“Alter ego.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alter%20ego. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alter ego

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alter ego

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