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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Recent Examples of dictum
But today the dictum applies to Israel, as well.
—
Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
Not that Wolfe’s dictum was totally off the mark.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
WarGames and The Matrix, each in its own quite different way, follow the classic dictum that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
—Jeremy Dauber, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
On the first day of his term, Trump signed an executive order that recognized two sexes, male and female, a dictum that has moved across all departments under his jurisdiction.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
Not that Wolfe’s dictum was totally off the mark.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
WarGames and The Matrix, each in its own quite different way, follow the classic dictum that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
—Jeremy Dauber, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
On the first day of his term, Trump signed an executive order that recognized two sexes, male and female, a dictum that has moved across all departments under his jurisdiction.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictum
Noun
-
The legislative blueprint outlines a half-dozen guiding principles for lawmakers, focusing on protecting children, preventing electricity costs from surging, respecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship and educating Americans on using the technology.—
SEUNG MIN KIM,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
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The idea that yogurt should never be eaten at night isn’t strongly supported by Western principles but likely from Ayurveda, says Manaker.—
Jahnavi Rapaka,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Semenya, who was assigned female at birth in South Africa and has high natural testosterone levels, won a European Court of Human Rights judgment in her years-long legal challenge to track and field's rules which did not overturn them.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Sweeney Bell had a tepid response, however, to a recent controversy in which dozens of local Democrats were kicked off the ballot for breaking an Indiana Democratic Party rule.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Talks on the Hindu philosophical doctrine of Vedanta are part of the experience.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The agreement clarifies that the court denied Morris’ motion to dismiss based on the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine.—
Alexa Shrake,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Proof of this axiom comes from the IRS and its publication of the latest (2023) migration numbers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
-
In a March 13 reply brief, the government argued that federal law allows the attorney general to make successive 120-day interim appointments when vacancies persist.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Following his military service, Mueller earned a law degree from the University of Virginia.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Weather apps have a tendency to alienate their user bases, perhaps because people’s physical experiences—their plans, their dress, their commutes—so directly depend on an accurate report.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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On an annual basis, Cabarrus collects hundreds of millions — not billions — in property taxes.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are three problems with this maxim.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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Still, that leaves a substantial audience who will find much to enjoy in this grisly yet sensitive take on the old maxim that every baby is different.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictum. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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