as in principle
formal
a statement or well-known remark that expresses an important idea, observation, or opinion
A doctor must follow the dictum of "First, do no harm."
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dictum
The majority opinion in Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary included a now-famous dictum about parents’ rights to shape their children’s upbringing.
—
Charles J. Russo, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
At a Vanity Fair party, Diddy admonished Nash because Cassie’s hair was not in keeping with his dictum.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 28 May 2025
Those organizing in opposition to pipelines in South Dakota, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Rhode Island carry the dictum on their lips.
—Elizabeth Rush, The Atlantic, 26 May 2025
Ultimately, the old dictum still stands – Garbage in, garbage out.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Charles J. Russo, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
At a Vanity Fair party, Diddy admonished Nash because Cassie’s hair was not in keeping with his dictum.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 28 May 2025
Those organizing in opposition to pipelines in South Dakota, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Rhode Island carry the dictum on their lips.
—Elizabeth Rush, The Atlantic, 26 May 2025
Ultimately, the old dictum still stands – Garbage in, garbage out.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictum
Noun
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Atmospheric principles and folktales, spirit and substance, opposites and inversions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The fabrics utilize the same aerodynamic principles as a golf ball, whose dimpled surface causes a ball to fly further by using turbulence to reduce drag.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The number of foreign residents has risen sharply in recent years, reaching a record 3 percent of the population in 2024, as Tokyo cautiously loosened visa rules for workers in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and caregiving.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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However, Laporta has now become closer to La Liga president Tebas, as Barca have looked for more flexibility in meeting the competition’s strict financial sustainability rules.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sabatini said that former President Ronald Reagan's doctrine included intervening on behalf of and supporting military governments with the intention of stopping the spread of communism.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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The attorney general alleges violations of public trust doctrine, public nuisance and the Michigan Environmental Protection Act.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Read More: Why Trump Didn't Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize The Russian President is a man who lives by the axiom: give an inch, take a mile.—
Luke McGee,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
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In other words, as Cleveland tore through the league last season, the players responded to most of the milestones reached with a collective shrug and worn axioms about nothing mattering until the playoffs.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Under state law, countywide petitions must be signed by 15% of those who voted for the office of circuit clerk in the most recent general election.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
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Detroit Mercy Law to review shipwreck's legal impact The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will host a special law review symposium on the Fitzgerald shipwreck's 50th anniversary addressing the legal aspect of fatal shipwrecks.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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National Guard troops have been staging at Portland training bases for weeks while the legal case plays out, having been activated to protect federal officials and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that has been the focal point of daily protests since June.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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The basis of the action is that artists with accurate streaming data suffer when others have inflated figures, because their proportional share of Spotify’s royalty pool shrinks.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Visitors who travel down a dirt road to The Hollow — named for the hollow-core concrete that made Mellor wealthy — can enter the compound through a dark, cavernous passage lined with neon signs illuminating maxims from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Flynn.—
Arthur Allen,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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Sarr’s advocates counter with one of basketball’s maxims: Young centers, especially lanky ones such as Sarr, usually require more time to develop physically than perimeter players.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictum. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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