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.
Related Words
Relevance
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
Proof of this axiom comes from the IRS and its publication of the latest (2023) migration numbers.
—
Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Now that Chalamet is also dealing with the headache of his remarks last month to Matthew McConaughey about the lack of impact that ballet and opera have on modern culture, the first and most obvious lesson is that, to quote the old axiom, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
—Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Admittedly, that axiom is being tested in a few locations this year, whether in Philadelphia (VJ Edgecombe, 76ers), Charlotte (Kon Knueppel, Hornets) or Boston (Hugo González, Celtics).
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The axiom about first getting one’s own house in order before pointing to the fault of others is appropriate here.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for axiom
Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Now that Chalamet is also dealing with the headache of his remarks last month to Matthew McConaughey about the lack of impact that ballet and opera have on modern culture, the first and most obvious lesson is that, to quote the old axiom, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
—Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Admittedly, that axiom is being tested in a few locations this year, whether in Philadelphia (VJ Edgecombe, 76ers), Charlotte (Kon Knueppel, Hornets) or Boston (Hugo González, Celtics).
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The axiom about first getting one’s own house in order before pointing to the fault of others is appropriate here.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for axiom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axiom
Noun
-
But with the arrival of the next course, bread and butter, I was forced to revise my theory.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
The landfill theory made some birding enthusiasts uneasy and prompted some authorities, locals and others to defend Ushuaia, a city of nearly 85,000 that draws tourists to its Antarctic cruise ships and abundant, watchworthy bird population.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
International humanitarian law mandates the principles of distinction, proportionality, and necessity, but the opaqueness of drone operations, particularly outside active battlefields, challenges these principles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
If governments operated with Hayekian principles in mind, there would be more robust commitments to checks-and-balances to ensure government doesn’t overreach.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
For example, a West Virginia law passed in early 2025 gives teachers more power to exclude disruptive students from their classrooms.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Rebecca Miller, the executive director of DC Preservation League, has spent 23 years at the organization, which sued to stop the golf course takeover and joined a coalition attempting to force the Kennedy Center to comply with preservation laws.—
Steven Sloan,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The democratization of drone warfare complicates traditional counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, requiring new doctrines, technologies, and legislative frameworks to confront the evolving threat landscape.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
Under the doctrine, federal judges should refrain from entertaining constitutional challenges to a state’s action when there are ongoing state proceedings.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axiom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axiom. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
