1
as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
Mom's favorite byword is "You can get more flies with honey than with vinegar"
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2
as in classic
the most perfect type or example
nationally, Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive has become a byword for luxury retailing
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of byword
And there’s working with people who are not exactly palatable, but who have significant sway in the region—like Dan Gertler, a billionaire Israeli businessman whose name has long been a byword for shady deals in Congo.
—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
By the 1990s, Techwood had resegregated, becoming almost exclusively Black, and turned into a byword in Atlanta for urban decline.
—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
The four teen-agers—Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur—came from the South Bronx at a time when the borough was still a national byword for immiseration and hopelessness.
—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
How did hocus pocus transform from the stage name of a magician (and it should be said, an accomplished juggler, according to Ady) to a byword for the entire craft?
—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
By the 1990s, Techwood had resegregated, becoming almost exclusively Black, and turned into a byword in Atlanta for urban decline.
—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
The four teen-agers—Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur—came from the South Bronx at a time when the borough was still a national byword for immiseration and hopelessness.
—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
How did hocus pocus transform from the stage name of a magician (and it should be said, an accomplished juggler, according to Ady) to a byword for the entire craft?
—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
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What does the phrase squeaky bum time, the racehorse Devon Loch, and the Portuguese proverb ‘morrer na prais’ all have in common?
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The rooms The old Japanese proverb ‘*kachou fuugetsu’—*which translates as ‘flower, bird, wind, moon’ evoking a sense of the transient beauty of nature—is a key concept at the hotel.
Noun
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Ray-Ban Wayfarers are included in this week’s deals, an iconic classic no sunglass selection should be without.
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Eddie Murphy’s comedy classic serves a feast of romance, mistaken identities, and enough barbershop philosophy to fill a kingdom.
Noun
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When word spread that Swift attended Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley's 2023 wedding on the New Jersey shore, hundreds of fans and photographers descended on the quiet beach community.
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Review a bill, then send a polite message that clarifies terms, because simple words protect value and invite respectful responses.
Noun
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And her theory is embodied by Bartlett’s leper character, who in his literal and physical anonymity feels simultaneously like a manifestation of the island itself and a guardian of its promise.
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Highly intelligent individuals are often perceived as impatient, but psychologists suggest this trait may actually be a manifestation of their sharp minds.
Noun
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Like the saying goes, hurt relieves hurt.
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Many families have their own remedies for treating these pesky bites—but as the old saying goes, prevention is better than the cure.
Noun
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While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
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Many of Haaland’s bags are actually Haut à Courroies (HAC), the model that the Birkin is based off, but with a slightly taller and narrower profile.
Noun
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The motto described something that already existed.
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Summer’s less is more motto rings especially true when a 90-degree afternoon is forecasted; a mini tank or spaghetti-strap midi will be a reliable choice to take the guesswork out of getting dressed.
Noun
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Lost Lantern’s passion for sourcing whiskey from every corner of this great land of ours has reached its apotheosis with its tribute to America on its 250th birthday, The United States Of Bourbon.
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This latter-day diner is true to the genre, down to its Formica, chrome and gum-cracking soul, with breakfast understood as the apotheosis of the day and the almost supernaturally fluffy pancakes, anointed in syrup and salted honey-maple butter, available until closing time.
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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