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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Recent Examples of adage
It’s often said that age is just a number, and a new Netflix reality dating series will soon put the old adage to the test by taking age entirely out of the courting equation.
—
Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Events far beyond the team’s control have reinforced the adage that the last mile is often the hardest.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
That’s an old adage of strategy.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
This adage is affirming as the moon and Chiron harmonize.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adage
Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Events far beyond the team’s control have reinforced the adage that the last mile is often the hardest.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
That’s an old adage of strategy.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
This adage is affirming as the moon and Chiron harmonize.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adage
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?—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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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.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The decal features a common saying in intelligence circles.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
More than a saying, pura vida is a guiding philosophy that honors simplicity and sustainability, and celebrates the deep-rooted connection between people and their environment.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His words were underscored when police in Israel stopped Catholic leaders from celebrating a private Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been crucified.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the maxim applies in a different way in the documentary Fork in the Road, which made its world premiere Saturday at the Sonoma International Film Festival in California’s wine country.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Mar. 2026
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By now, decades into Americans’ pursuit of cooking as a mainstream hobby, certain maxims have become near-law among food lovers.—
Emily Heil,
Washington Post,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adage. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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