epithet vs characterisation

epithet and characterisation both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
epithet	Yes	No	No	No
characterisation	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, characterisation is a hypernym of epithet; that is, characterisation is a word with a broader meaning than epithet:

Other hypernyms of epithet include characterization, delineation, depiction, picture, word-painting, word picture.

epithet (noun)	characterisation (noun)
descriptive word or phrase	a graphic or vivid verbal description
a defamatory or abusive word or phrase	the act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features