as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
what does the aphorism "Hindsight is 20/20" mean?
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Recent Examples of aphorism
Which brings us back to the twin aphorisms that began this piece.
—
George Pesansky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
The aphorism is likely to be particularly appreciated by those residents of increasingly common micro-apartments, who otherwise might be without a residence, or sharing a living space with parents or roommates.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Pathei mathos, which appears in Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon, is an aphorism about wisdom.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The acting legend, who was baptized and became a minister at the end of 2024, has entered his zen era, content to reel off aphorisms about fame and filmmaking; taking shots while walking backwards into his own mystique.
—Thomas Page, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
George Pesansky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
The aphorism is likely to be particularly appreciated by those residents of increasingly common micro-apartments, who otherwise might be without a residence, or sharing a living space with parents or roommates.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Pathei mathos, which appears in Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon, is an aphorism about wisdom.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The acting legend, who was baptized and became a minister at the end of 2024, has entered his zen era, content to reel off aphorisms about fame and filmmaking; taking shots while walking backwards into his own mystique.
—Thomas Page, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aphorism
Noun
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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
Noun
-
Politics ain’t beanbag, as the saying goes.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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My accent and ways of saying signaled something different there, something other than modesty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mostly Mute Monday tells a scientific story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Feb. 2026
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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,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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The United States is currently living out the first half of that maxim.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aphorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aphorism. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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