A netcronym is a word created using the first letters of several words. It is catchy and simple, making it a popular technique in advertising and social media. However, if you are looking to diversify your netcronym game, there are several synonyms you can try. One synonym, popular for abbreviation in academic citations, is initialism. Unlike netcronym, initialism does not form a pronounceable word. Another synonym for netcronym is acronym, which also creates a pronounceable word. However, acronym typically refers to abbreviations that are used as standalone words like NASA or NATO. A portmanteau is another alternative to netcronym. This technique combines two words to create a new one, like brunch (breakfast + lunch). However, portmanteau does not use initial letters, but instead, whole words.