as in saying
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of proverb
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
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
But perhaps the night’s theme was best summed up by a proverb, not from Italy, but Coventry’s native continent.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
And there’s a proverb, this idea of the secret of getting old.
—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proverb
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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
But perhaps the night’s theme was best summed up by a proverb, not from Italy, but Coventry’s native continent.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
And there’s a proverb, this idea of the secret of getting old.
—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proverb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proverb
Noun
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One popular saying suggests a knot tied on a rainy day is harder to untie.
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But your abhorrence of the outcomes of particular elections doesn’t justify your saying, Well, the hell with that.
Noun
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When word spread that Swift attended Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley's 2023 wedding on the New Jersey shore, hundreds of fans and photographers descended on the quiet beach community.
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Review a bill, then send a polite message that clarifies terms, because simple words protect value and invite respectful responses.
Noun
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That line is more than a practical outdoor maxim.
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But that’s the world’s most popular game in 2026, intent on testing the old coaching maxim that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
Noun
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But the old legal adage—that any town too small to support one lawyer is exactly the right size for two—suggests that rival advocates may ultimately direct their primary efforts toward undercutting each other.
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But that just reinforces Samuel Johnson’s adage that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Noun
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In romance, Tolstoy’s aphorism about the family is reversed.
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The statement is one among many hard-hitting aphorisms that ring devastatingly true for the state of our current world, as late-stage capitalism widens the gap between haves and have-nots, creating unsustainable conditions for millions of people.
Noun
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The motto described something that already existed.
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Summer’s less is more motto rings especially true when a 90-degree afternoon is forecasted; a mini tank or spaghetti-strap midi will be a reliable choice to take the guesswork out of getting dressed.
Cite this Entry
“Proverb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proverb. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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