as in sayings
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion
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Recent Examples of proverbs
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
Reading Proverbs did not manage to enlighten me to the possibility that my parents’ rules were devised in my best interest.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In West African traditions, the drum serves as both a musical instrument and a talking messenger, transmitting proverbs, praises, and official announcements in a language that reinforces the chief’s authority and the community’s history.
—Felicia Appenteng, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Ecclesiastes, also a wisdom book, has a very different perspective from Proverbs.
—Walt Shelton, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
There’s a line in Proverbs that says that, ‘Death and life are in the hands of the tongue’.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 23 May 2025
There is the beautiful proverb about the woman of strength (Proverbs 31:10-31), that is perhaps the most eloquent text on women in the Bible.
—Arkansas Online, 9 May 2025
One Eagles assistant coach alluded to Proverbs 27:7 on Monday, furthering illustrating Wade's point.
—Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean, 27 Nov. 2024
As the Book of Proverbs says, without wood, there is no fire.
—Arlie Russell Hochschild, TIME, 12 Sep. 2024
Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
Reading Proverbs did not manage to enlighten me to the possibility that my parents’ rules were devised in my best interest.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In West African traditions, the drum serves as both a musical instrument and a talking messenger, transmitting proverbs, praises, and official announcements in a language that reinforces the chief’s authority and the community’s history.
—Felicia Appenteng, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Ecclesiastes, also a wisdom book, has a very different perspective from Proverbs.
—Walt Shelton, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
There’s a line in Proverbs that says that, ‘Death and life are in the hands of the tongue’.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 23 May 2025
There is the beautiful proverb about the woman of strength (Proverbs 31:10-31), that is perhaps the most eloquent text on women in the Bible.
—Arkansas Online, 9 May 2025
One Eagles assistant coach alluded to Proverbs 27:7 on Monday, furthering illustrating Wade's point.
—Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean, 27 Nov. 2024
As the Book of Proverbs says, without wood, there is no fire.
—Arlie Russell Hochschild, TIME, 12 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proverbs
Noun
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The Workers’ Party of Korea is the sole ruling party of North Korea, blending communism with the words, sayings and ideals of the Kim dynasty, who have imposed their authoritarian rule on the country for three generations.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
9 Oct. 2025
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Little sayings like that get you through the rough patches.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Over the course of a conversation that spanned more than a million words and 300 hours, the bot encouraged Brooks to adopt grandiose beliefs, validated his delusions, and led him to believe the technological infrastructure that underpins the world was in imminent danger.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
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The reports of children being able to distinguish between similar-sounding words and recognizing speech in noisy environments were the most exciting part of the paper for Nancy Young, who founded the Lurie Children’s Cochlear Implant program.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proverbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proverbs. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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