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
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Recent Examples of maxim
And how does Simonson feel about my own Martini maxim: that it must be served with an odd number of olives, while an even number represents the apocalypse.
—
Adam Morganstern, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The Sonicare brushing app is proof that this maxim couldn’t be truer.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
There's a maxim in the intelligence community always about speaking truth to power.
—ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
The celebrity certainly lived up to that maxim.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maxim
Adam Morganstern, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The Sonicare brushing app is proof that this maxim couldn’t be truer.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
There's a maxim in the intelligence community always about speaking truth to power.
—ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
The celebrity certainly lived up to that maxim.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maxim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maxim
Noun
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The lyrics, some inspired by proverbs and biblical passages, convey the fervor of his first love with God, without losing his personal touch.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
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His tale has become a proverb for any outdoor fanatic who, despite all of the proper planning and preparation, is undone by forces more powerful than him or herself.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The new space resembles the old, complete with walls covered in graffiti with names, sayings, and pictures of the old Post Bar.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Amish are part of the wider Anabaptist movement, which puts heavy emphasis on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, containing some of his most radical and counter-cultural sayings — to love enemies, live simply, bless persecutors, turn the other cheek and to endure sufferings joyfully.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But Obergefell, like many other who are concerned about the Supreme Court's conservative majority, takes little comfort in their words.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Swayer is a spoken word poet and this is clear in her verse that is melodic on the page.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Sticking to this motto helped Cribs walk the line between being relatable and aspirational—an effort that, 25 years later, in an era of hyper-wealth on television, seems almost quaint.—
Kim Hew-Low,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
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Before that there had been three mottoes, all traditional rather than official.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The same adage applies to container gardening.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Nov. 2025
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Possibly proving the old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity, with the critical response piquing people’s curiosity, All’s Fair launched at #1 on Hulu’s Top 15 and remained in the top spot for the first three days on platform.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maxim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maxim. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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