1
as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
Mom's favorite byword is "You can get more flies with honey than with vinegar"
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2
as in classic
the most perfect type or example
nationally, Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive has become a byword for luxury retailing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of byword
West Ham, Prague aside, have become a byword for underachievement.
—
Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Over the past five years, El Salvador has gone from a byword for dysfunction in American politics to a potential model for some, particularly for those on the Right.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Feb. 2025
At home the story of Norway’s infamous Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name has become a byword for traitor, stirred intense public debate and ended up as the third biggest Norwegian film of 2024.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
As part of the Panasonic empire, Technics was once a byword for hi-fi in the 1980s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Over the past five years, El Salvador has gone from a byword for dysfunction in American politics to a potential model for some, particularly for those on the Right.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Feb. 2025
At home the story of Norway’s infamous Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name has become a byword for traitor, stirred intense public debate and ended up as the third biggest Norwegian film of 2024.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
As part of the Panasonic empire, Technics was once a byword for hi-fi in the 1980s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
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The difficulty that arises is reminiscent of the old proverb about blind men groping different parts of an elephant.—
Dan McLaughlin,
National Review,
6 May 2025
-
Even the most nonsensical attempts at new proverbs resulted in a confident explanation from Google's AI Overview, created right there on the spot.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The 1985 classic spent two weeks at No. 1 during its original run and remains one of five chart-toppers for the band.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
16 May 2025
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When the Wires Go Dead: Why Spain’s Train Crisis May Spark a Hydrogen Future In the middle of the day on 28 April 2025, Spain lived a modern replay of the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.—
Marianne Lehnis,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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The words take on an emotional second meaning after Todd's death, playing like a farewell message from the actor himself, and that's not by accident.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
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Read every single word, as there will be a pop quiz this week to test your knowledge.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
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Fortunately, the man did not develop this even more serious manifestation of the disease.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 May 2025
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The musician’s spotting was part side quest, part manifestation.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
Noun
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As the old saying goes, blood — and directorial instincts — are thicker than water.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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An old saying suggests a series isn’t a series until the road team wins a contest on the opponent’s home floor.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
The Long Range All-Wheel Drive model starts at $48,990 or $39,390 after the EV tax incentive.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Don't just grab the first random model that pops up on Amazon, though, as some just aren't that great.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
Noun
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The classic mother’s motto: Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
14 May 2025
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Carey’s motto is often that the item itself doesn’t change.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
Noun
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A bit later, Federer and Nadal and Djokovic took over, and people thought that was the game’s apotheosis.—
Thomas Swick,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2025
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As far as men’s clothes are concerned, the apotheosis for me was between the Edwardian era—Victorian had a few too many frills, a bit too heavy—and the 1920s, the jazz age, with its freedom, a bit of laissez faire, a bit of inventiveness.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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