as in saying
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion
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Recent Examples of proverb
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, 24 Nov. 2025
Includes quirky facts, adages, advice, quotes and proverbs, as well as articles about mistletoe, bird nests, perennials, timekeeping, recipes and more.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
The lyrics, some inspired by proverbs and biblical passages, convey the fervor of his first love with God, without losing his personal touch.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
His tale has become a proverb for any outdoor fanatic who, despite all of the proper planning and preparation, is undone by forces more powerful than him or herself.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proverb
Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
Includes quirky facts, adages, advice, quotes and proverbs, as well as articles about mistletoe, bird nests, perennials, timekeeping, recipes and more.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
The lyrics, some inspired by proverbs and biblical passages, convey the fervor of his first love with God, without losing his personal touch.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
His tale has become a proverb for any outdoor fanatic who, despite all of the proper planning and preparation, is undone by forces more powerful than him or herself.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proverb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proverb
Noun
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While Haiti is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean, the saying is often used to reflect the immense and constant obstacles Haiti has had to overcome.—
Kathleen Rellihan,
Outside,
15 Mar. 2026
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Slopes don’t have to be a problem The saying goes that Kansas is flat.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Oscar Grabbing his third trophy of the night, Paul Thomas Anderson joined his jubilant cast (including Teyana Taylor, literally jumping for joy) onstage and got the last words of the night.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Use more than five bold-type words.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There are three problems with this maxim.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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Still, that leaves a substantial audience who will find much to enjoy in this grisly yet sensitive take on the old maxim that every baby is different.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Among the oldest such cultural translations are the Hippocratic aphorisms.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
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There is no better proof for this aphorism than the American military’s escalating spat with Anthropic, the creator of the artificial-intelligence model Claude.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Holding the blue line is the Red Rangers’ motto, helping Barnes (goalie) allow just 12 goals through 26 games this year.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
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They should then be joined by the Young Republicans who reportedly have been spouting Nazi mottos and ideas.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proverb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proverb. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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