as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
her mother endlessly repeated the apothegm "cleanliness is next to godliness"
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Recent Examples of apothegm
As with every Together Live speaker, each apothegm is met with exuberant applause.
—
Zoë Ghertner, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2019
Zoë Ghertner, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apothegm
Noun
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That ancient proverb captures the mindset of American investors eyeing the Middle East as a global growth engine.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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A certain proverb about glass houses comes to mind.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Noun
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There’s another way of measuring the sandwich's size, borrowing from a ubiquitous saying about eating.—
Amanda Hancock,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
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Of course—as the saying goes—Paris is never a bad idea, and a trip to the city isn't complete without indulging in good French cheese, hunting for vintage goods at an antique market, and people-watching at one of the outdoor cafes.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Yellow: The letter is in the word, but in the wrong spot.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Guides can help first-time visitors navigate the word soup.—
Robin Catalano,
Robb Report,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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That celebrated epigram is delivered by the character of Octave, who is the greatest creation of Renoir’s career—not least because he’s played by Renoir in a performance that’s essentially a self-portrait, even an onscreen self-creation.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 July 2025
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Everyone has a right to define the artist in special terms, and to attempt an epigram that will make a reality out of a convenient term.—
John Updike,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apothegm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apothegm. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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