misnomer

noun

Definition of misnomernext
as in moniker
a name that is wrong or not proper or appropriate "International Airport" is something of a misnomer, since almost all the arriving and departing flights are local.

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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 misnomer Although they’re often called mobile homes or trailers, that’s really a misnomer because their owners can’t easily relocate them. — Erin Gaede, The Conversation, 3 June 2026 Family time was no longer a misnomer chez Bixby. — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 Rare earths aren’t particularly scarce in the earth’s crust — the name is a misnomer. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026 The misnomer has defined, and confined, the painter’s legacy in the nearly two centuries after her death. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for misnomer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misnomer
  1. moniker
  2. nickname
  3. nomenclature
  4. diminutive
  5. designation
Noun
  • Flip it over, and the caseback is home to the classic 007 moniker.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Stockley, known by her online moniker DaniBabes, shares candid takes on relationships, nightlife, and travel, and also features in the upcoming Netflix reality show Outside.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of moniker
Noun
  • Friends said Mathis acquired the Maybach nickname because of his association with Ross, whose record label is Maybach Music Group.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Miriam testified there was someone higher up than Alobadi — someone whose nickname was familiar to authorities.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of nickname
Noun
  • Under this nomenclature, Fredonia would be the poetic and literary term, and denizens of the nation would be called Fredonians, or more colloquially, Fredes.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Many women-forward organizations are rightfully changing their nomenclature and their audience to be inclusive of non-binary and trans women, because that’s a whole other subsection that is often more ignored.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of nomenclature
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
Noun
  • Carolina announced that rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling cleared concussion protocol and now has no game designation for Sunday’s game.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Congress had written the exclusion around designation, and the court said only Congress could rewrite it around use.
    — John Mildenberger, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of designation

Browse Nearby Words

misnaming
misnomer
misnomers
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Cite this Entry

“Misnomer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misnomer. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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