as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
that old adage, "the early bird gets the worm"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adage
One of Payton’s most frequent adages is that the worst place to be on the field is behind the quarterback.
—
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
Change your hair, change your life is an adage of Cyrus’s, through her many, mega eras.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
However, the old technical adage – the longer the base the higher in space — is one to monitor here.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
The film seeks the expertise of Jewish astronauts and scientists researching the dynamics of living on the moon and Mars, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and a trio of rabbis who, despite the adage, come to a general consensus rather than four separate opinions on the matter.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adage
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
Change your hair, change your life is an adage of Cyrus’s, through her many, mega eras.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
However, the old technical adage – the longer the base the higher in space — is one to monitor here.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
The film seeks the expertise of Jewish astronauts and scientists researching the dynamics of living on the moon and Mars, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and a trio of rabbis who, despite the adage, come to a general consensus rather than four separate opinions on the matter.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adage
Noun
-
And there’s a proverb, this idea of the secret of getting old.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
26 Nov. 2025
-
For nine months, Erasmus spent his short nights in a modest dorm and his long days in the print shop, expanding on his collection of proverbs Adagiorum chiliades while Aldus proofread, craftsman carefully laying sets of print and rolling paper through the press.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Redhawks kept things interesting again, surviving 86-84 against Massachusetts, but hey, better to win ugly than lose pretty, as the saying goes.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Work With a Partner Ultimately, the easiest way to paint faster is to have more than one person working on the job—as the saying goes, many hands make light work.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Though Proust is never mentioned, the French author’s own words even appear almost unaltered when McGahern recounts his youthful absorption in books.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Maybe anyone planning long journeys should take those maxims as advice anyhow.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Manfred has bucked that maxim before, with success.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adage. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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