hypocorism

noun

Definition of hypocorismnext
as in family name

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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 hypocorism Someone named the fog Karl, but none of our other weather gets a hypocorism. — Kevin Fisher-Paulson, SFChronicle.com, 29 Sep. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypocorism
  1. family name
  2. maiden name
  3. pen name
  4. sobriquet
  5. middle name
  6. nom de plume
  7. nickname
  8. diminutive
Noun
  • Prosecutors are seeking the maximum five-year sentences for four of the nine defendants, including Chang, an Nvidia manager identified just by his family name.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • As is the Pickwick Theater, built by his grandfather, and the William Malone Fountain by Rita’s on the Northwest Highway keeps the family name in town.
    — Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of family name
Noun
  • Stein’s maiden name is Prosterman, according to the formal demand.
    — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Woods, who competes using her maiden name Sophie Amy Grant, set off on July 4 in Trieste, Italy, and finished on the Mediterranean coast of Monaco.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of maiden name
Noun
  • Shangguanluan, a Chinese writer and activist who is known professionally by her pen name, moved to Taiwan in 2021 with her Taiwanese husband.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • An economy that stretches to Haiti For Jean-Marie Denis, the Haitian writer and Little Haiti cultural activist better known by his pen name, Jan Mapou, the withdrawal of Haitians from public life evokes something from Haiti’s past.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of pen name
Noun
  • Enough to quickly merit a sobriquet calling her the richest Black girl in America.
    — Dan Kelly June 16, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
  • Presumably the same sobriquet might apply to many other countries.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Definition of sobriquet
Noun
  • As with his cousin August, James’ second middle name pays homage to his late grandfather, Philip.
    — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Her first name honored her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, while her middle name honored her late grandmother, Princess Diana.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of middle name
Noun
  • There was the use of nom de plume when a reporter was concerned about retribution for news content, but many reports identified sources for information so that readers at least understood whether to believe the story.
    — Shannon E. Martin, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Apr. 2026
  • In person, the author Freida McFadden (her nom de plume) has a sweet, shy demeanor—but don’t be fooled.
    — E.L. James, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of nom de plume
Noun
  • His daughter Angela West said farming had been part of her father’s life long before Kansas City knew his nickname.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hig nicknames her The Beast, which seems more of an inner monologue moniker.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of nickname
Noun
  • The more common nickname, El Mencho, is said to be a diminutive of his first name, Nemesio.
    — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of diminutive

Browse Nearby Words

hypochondriacs
hypocorism
hypocorisms
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Cite this Entry

“Hypocorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypocorism. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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