as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
Benjamin Franklin's famous epigram, "Remember that time is money"
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Recent Examples of epigram
Her poems of that era — sonnets, epigrams, eminently quotable snippets of rhymed gossip — pulse with the dynamism and attitude of the modern city.
—
A.o. Scott, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
On his plane plastered with Trumpian epigrams, Vance makes the case for Trump’s second-term vision of enhanced executive power.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
No one could tell the clock by him; no one could quote an epigram of his; no one could ever remember his being a friend of their daddy—or even their granddaddy.
—E. L. Doctorow, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
Chevalier wrote that the idea for the reports had come from Oppenheimer, who helped to write them and even chose literary references for the epigrams.
—TIME, 8 Mar. 2024
One of the book's epigrams is from Amy Richlin of the University of California, Los Angeles, talking about her experience in the 1970s.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023
An epigram for one of his chapters in The Real Anthony Fauci, a quote from C. S. Lewis, offers a hint: Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.
—Matthew Scully, National Review, 16 May 2023
An epigram by any other name .
—Bryan A. Garner, National Review, 15 Sep. 2022
A.o. Scott, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
On his plane plastered with Trumpian epigrams, Vance makes the case for Trump’s second-term vision of enhanced executive power.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
No one could tell the clock by him; no one could quote an epigram of his; no one could ever remember his being a friend of their daddy—or even their granddaddy.
—E. L. Doctorow, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
Chevalier wrote that the idea for the reports had come from Oppenheimer, who helped to write them and even chose literary references for the epigrams.
—TIME, 8 Mar. 2024
One of the book's epigrams is from Amy Richlin of the University of California, Los Angeles, talking about her experience in the 1970s.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023
An epigram for one of his chapters in The Real Anthony Fauci, a quote from C. S. Lewis, offers a hint: Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.
—Matthew Scully, National Review, 16 May 2023
An epigram by any other name .
—Bryan A. Garner, National Review, 15 Sep. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epigram
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
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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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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
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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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And there is genuine emotion displayed when chef Tristen Epps gets word right before a big challenge that his father-in-law has died and his mother encourages him to continue competing.—
Laurie Ochoa,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
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His announcement was greeted with surprise and then minutes of thundering applause from shareholders — many of whom became millionaires by owning Berkshire stock and hang onto his every financial aphorism.—
Michael J. de la Merced,
New York Times,
4 May 2025
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Apparently, Eric Musselman (not unlike his crosstown rival) has never heard of Harry Truman’s aphorism about where the buck stops.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epigram.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epigram. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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