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 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
This dictum—to honor and to applaud—brought me to Charleston this past December.
—Latria Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 May 2023
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
This dictum—to honor and to applaud—brought me to Charleston this past December.
—Latria Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictum
Noun
-
Talent agencies are organizing around the same principle.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Strand explained that one of the show’s guiding narrative principles is prioritizing the perspective of its doctors over smaller characters on the show.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Rollins credited the administration's crackdown on fraud and recipients who aren't legally authorized to be in the country, as well as the new rules.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Growing numbers of Labour MPs called for Starmer to quit, but with Burnham unable to run as party leader – and hence prime minister – since rules and convention state that only serving MPs can do so, no one was willing or able to launch an official challenge.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The alleged interference by Judge Curry is described as undermining Texas precedent, which recognizes a non-intervention doctrine for claims regarding voluntary associations.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
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Now, that doctrine is up to investors to decide.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Furthermore, this equality isn’t just a formal, mathematical axiom.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
-
Everything in mathematics therefore rests on the axioms, or basic building blocks, of the field.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
The groups challenging the restriction said the state law prevents social service organizations from helping voters with disabilities or those who are not proficient in English, a conflict with the Voting Rights Act.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
Anthropic calls for more stringent regulation and supports efforts by states such as New York and California that have passed more aggressive AI laws.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Chicago trailed 4-3 in the ninth inning before Pedro Ramírez hit an RBI single off Seth Halvorsen with the bases loaded and nobody out.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
-
Second baseman Pedro Ramirez connected for an RBI single with the bases loaded and nobody out to tie things up at 4-4.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
In 1999, the Bank of Japan rewrote that maxim entirely — putting out the biggest punchbowl any major economy had ever seen and leaving it out indefinitely.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
But that’s the world’s most popular game in 2026, intent on testing the old coaching maxim that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictum. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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