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
The old adage in soccer is that a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous in the game.
—
Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 19 Mar. 2026
She’s grown wise during her absence, sharing in this smoldering, ‘90s-redolent track that some bridges are worth burning, despite the adage.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for adage
Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 19 Mar. 2026
She’s grown wise during her absence, sharing in this smoldering, ‘90s-redolent track that some bridges are worth burning, despite the adage.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2026
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
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
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The old saying about the Masters is that the tournament doesn’t truly begin until the back nine on Sunday.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
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There’s an old saying that goes something like the poet needs the imagination of a scientist, and the scientist needs the precision of the poet.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At a minimum, his play in leading the Spurs to a 60-win season — and his words in defense of his unparalleled impact — have made a great case.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
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The fact that Grace and Rocky start their word list with numbers makes sense, says Arik Kershenbaum, an associate professor at the University of Cambridge who has studied wolf calls.—
Tara Haelle,
NPR,
12 Apr. 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 14 Apr. 2026.
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