as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
what does the aphorism "Hindsight is 20/20" mean?
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Recent Examples of aphorism
The aphorism is likely to be particularly appreciated by those residents of increasingly common micro-apartments, who otherwise might be without a residence, or sharing a living space with parents or roommates.
—
Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Pathei mathos, which appears in Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon, is an aphorism about wisdom.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The acting legend, who was baptized and became a minister at the end of 2024, has entered his zen era, content to reel off aphorisms about fame and filmmaking; taking shots while walking backwards into his own mystique.
—Thomas Page, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Minima Moralia, composed in the shadow of the Holocaust, collects quasi-Marxian fragments and aphorisms that even as postscript to atrocity read as terrible prophecy.
—Jon Raymond
august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Pathei mathos, which appears in Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon, is an aphorism about wisdom.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The acting legend, who was baptized and became a minister at the end of 2024, has entered his zen era, content to reel off aphorisms about fame and filmmaking; taking shots while walking backwards into his own mystique.
—Thomas Page, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Minima Moralia, composed in the shadow of the Holocaust, collects quasi-Marxian fragments and aphorisms that even as postscript to atrocity read as terrible prophecy.
—Jon Raymond
august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aphorism
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
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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
-
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
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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
“Aphorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aphorism. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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