maxim

noun

ˈmak-səm How to pronounce maxim (audio)
Definition of maximnext
as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience it's a common maxim that "a watched pot never boils," but that's not literally true

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of maxim But that maxim may not hold up this year. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026 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 By now, decades into Americans’ pursuit of cooking as a mainstream hobby, certain maxims have become near-law among food lovers. — Emily Heil, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2026 Ash found success by attending revival-style sales conventions and memorizing every smile, wink, and maxim in the Stanley songbook. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maxim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maxim
  1. proverb
  2. saying
  3. word
  4. motto
  5. adage
Noun
  • The reason can be explained by a Japanese proverb about the importance of leaving no mess.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • Popeye the Sailor Man has been guzzling spinach since 1931 to build muscle, while the apple-a-day advice derives from a 19th-century Welsh proverb.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 5 May 2026
Definition of proverb
Noun
  • One person’s flip-flop is another person’s strappy sandal… or so the saying goes.
    — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 10 July 2026
  • There is an old saying in baseball, that a team can never have enough pitching.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of saying
Noun
  • The game’s objective is to group words or objects into four groups of four based on commonalities within each group as quickly as possible.
    — Mark Cooper, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The latter line, in its phrasing and melody and even the musical tone of its words, is an almost perfect mimic of Santa Claus asking Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to guide his sleigh.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Definition of word
Noun
  • And in the Granite State, the first part of that motto almost always wins.
    — Scott Cohn, CNBC, 11 July 2026
  • This is where Barca’s famous mes que un club (more than a club) motto comes in, coined by former club president Narcis de Carreras during his 1968 inauguration speech.
    — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of motto
Noun
  • The adage highlights the unpredictability of situations and emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • One of the oldest adages in organizing is that the action is in the reaction.
    — Mike Gecan, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026
Definition of adage

Browse Nearby Words

maxillae
maxim
maxima
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Cite this Entry

“Maxim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maxim. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of maxim for Spanish Speakers

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