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axiom

noun

Definition of axiomnext
as in theory
formal an idea or statement put forth and accepted as true by many people The retired judge recounted the old legal axiom which states that justice and law are not always the same.

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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 axiom An Anthropic employee and mathematician recently overturned a nearly century-old axiom with the help of Claude, prompting Garry Tan, CEO of startup-funder Y Combinator, to announce the era of the gentleman scientist is back. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 July 2026 But whether that axiom applies to the quadrennial World Cup tournament is a different question. — John A. Tures, The Conversation, 26 June 2026 Furthermore, this equality isn’t just a formal, mathematical axiom. — New York Times, 9 June 2026 And as Gödel could also show in his seminal work, this is the case for all axiom systems (not just for ZFC). — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for axiom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axiom
  1. theory
  2. principle
  3. law
  4. doctrine
Noun
  • One of my favorite moments comes when an excited classmate emerges from the library holding a new book of feminist literary theory.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Annie Dillard, the author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Holy the Firm, An American Childhood, and many other major works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and theory, died at the age of 81 on September 15 at her home in Massachusetts.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of theory
Noun
  • Coach Nick Sirianni hired another first-time play-caller, Sean Mannion, to build a brand new system with principles championed by Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • On October 7, Hamas, a group that al-Qaeda regularly criticized for compromising on theological principles in the pursuit of its political agenda, launched a bloody terrorist attack on Israel, killing more than 1,100 people.
    — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of principle
Noun
  • The system is a maze in which laws collide with gray areas, where layers upon layers of policy have accumulated over decades in a pile waiting for reform that has never come.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • California community colleges will be able to offer more bachelor’s degrees under a law signed by the governor.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of law
Noun
  • Among them was the revival of medieval doctrines of just war, which subordinated contractual obligations to unilateral claims of moral authority—doctrines that resurfaced during the war on terror to justify pre-emptive attacks and torture.
    — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Talarico, a former school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian serving his fourth term in the Texas House of Representatives, made waves in national politics through a combination of progressive values grounded in religious doctrine.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of doctrine

Browse Nearby Words

axing
axiom
axiomatic
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Cite this Entry

“Axiom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axiom. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on axiom

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about axiom

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