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proverbial

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adjective pro·ver·bi·al \ prə-ˈvər-bē-əl \

Definition of proverbial

1 :of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
2 :that has become a proverb or byword :commonly spoken of
  • the proverbial smoking gun
—

proverbially

play \-ə-lē\ adverb

See proverbial defined for English-language learners

See proverbial defined for kids

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Examples of proverbial in a Sentence

  1. Insanity roamed through her large midwestern tribe, cloistered in proverbial dark closets in gabled houses in areas of the country where no one else lived for miles and miles … —Lynne Tillman,  Motion Sickness,  1991
  2. I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of the proverbial man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. —Lewis H. Lapham,  Harper's,  November 1990

Recent Examples of proverbial from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proverbial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of proverbial

see 1proverb

PROVERBIAL Defined for English Language Learners

proverbial

play
adjective

Definition of proverbial for English Language Learners

  • : of, relating to, or resembling a proverb

  • : commonly spoken of : widely known

PROVERBIAL Defined for Kids

proverbial

play
adjective pro·ver·bi·al \ prə-ˈvər-bē-əl \

Definition of proverbial for Students

1 :of a proverb
  • a proverbial expression
2 :commonly spoken of
  • You have the proverbial beginner's luck.
—

proverbially

adverb

Learn More about proverbial

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of proverbial Nglish: Translation of proverbial for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of proverbial for Arabic speakers

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smooth or hairless

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proverbial

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Examples: proverbial in a Sentence