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
The dictum is Beijing’s most substantive retaliation yet to Sanae Takaichi’s remarks.
—
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictum
Noun
-
Cities that cling to stability as a design principle will keep building infrastructure for a demand pattern that no longer exists.—
Chase Garbarino,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
-
The case gave courts the right to strike acts of Congress that are found to be unconstitutional, thus establishing the principle of judicial review.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Hernandez will continue competing under CIF rules permitting transgender participation and is scheduled to compete Saturday, May 16, before advancing to the CIF finals in Clovis later this month.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
According to Anthropic, decisions made before 2028 could determine whether democratic nations or authoritarian governments shape the future rules and standards surrounding advanced AI.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The fate of two men charged in the April 3, 2022, downtown Sacramento mass shooting that killed six people and wounded 12 hinges on the centuries-old legal doctrine of mutual combat.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
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In a city where animal rights are practically civic doctrine and oat milk has a stronger lobby than most politicians, Diaz showing up at a bird fight lands as a direct shot to LA culture.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Each starts from its own axioms, and those axioms can be diametrically opposed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
Trust but Verify The old Ronald Regan axiom is so true for business.—
Domenic Rom,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Under Louisiana law, if no candidate clears the 50% threshold the top two finishers run again in a June 27 runoff.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
Passed in the final days of session and signed into law by Lamont earlier this week, the bill was praised as a massive victory for the state’s labor community and has been strongly embraced by unions and workers advocacy groups.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Oakland County township supervisor Chris Barnett said Tuesday that restaurants are starting to get permission to re-open, although local officials ask that food service be on carry-out rather than dine-in basis for now.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 34 months in a row.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
But that maxim may not hold up this year.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
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But the maxim applies in a different way in the documentary Fork in the Road, which made its world premiere Saturday at the Sonoma International Film Festival in California’s wine country.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictum. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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