adage

noun

ˈa-dij How to pronounce adage (audio)
Definition of adagenext
as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience that old adage, "the early bird gets the worm"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adage Yamal is most likely your favorite player’s favorite player to watch, to steal a somewhat corny adage. — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026 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. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026 But that just reinforces Samuel Johnson’s adage that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 That all starts with the old adage that teams should build from the net out. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adage
  1. proverb
  2. saying
  3. word
  4. maxim
Noun
  • The reason can be explained by a Japanese proverb about the importance of leaving no mess.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • Popeye the Sailor Man has been guzzling spinach since 1931 to build muscle, while the apple-a-day advice derives from a 19th-century Welsh proverb.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 5 May 2026
Definition of proverb
Noun
  • As the saying goes, hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue.
    — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
  • One person’s flip-flop is another person’s strappy sandal… or so the saying goes.
    — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 10 July 2026
Definition of saying
Noun
  • The game’s objective is to group words or objects into four groups of four based on commonalities within each group as quickly as possible.
    — Mark Cooper, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The latter line, in its phrasing and melody and even the musical tone of its words, is an almost perfect mimic of Santa Claus asking Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to guide his sleigh.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Definition of word
Noun
  • In the United Kingdom, the maxim known as Murphy’s law is commonly referred to as Sod’s law.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • That line is more than a practical outdoor maxim.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of maxim

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Cite this Entry

“Adage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adage. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adage

Nglish: Translation of adage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adage

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