as in proverb
a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group
"Hope for the best and prepare for the worst" is my motto. The Scout motto is "Be prepared."
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Recent Examples of motto
The brand is tweaking its longtime motto for its new tie-up with Tinder, which was conceived for Pride Month and is aimed at celebrating love in all forms.
—
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
This personal motto had some unfortunate consequences.
—Inga Bielińska, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The Tribune adopted it in 1940, but Porter’s motto remained largely a regional phenomenon for four decades until CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger, a former Chicago newspaper reporter, began using it during the NCAA tournament in 1982.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
This new motto could be this year’s version.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for motto
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
This personal motto had some unfortunate consequences.
—Inga Bielińska, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The Tribune adopted it in 1940, but Porter’s motto remained largely a regional phenomenon for four decades until CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger, a former Chicago newspaper reporter, began using it during the NCAA tournament in 1982.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
This new motto could be this year’s version.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for motto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motto
Noun
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What does the phrase squeaky bum time, the racehorse Devon Loch, and the Portuguese proverb ‘morrer na prais’ all have in common?—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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The rooms The old Japanese proverb ‘*kachou fuugetsu’—*which translates as ‘flower, bird, wind, moon’ evoking a sense of the transient beauty of nature—is a key concept at the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Pride, the saying goes, comes before a fall.—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
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As the old saying goes, don’t try to eat an elephant in one bite.—
Bob Rhatigan,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
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After the second disallowance, the crowd of 57,741 sang their disapproval with words that can’t be printed in a family newspaper.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
1 June 2026
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Yet will soon seem to me the defining word of this experience.—
Alexandra Oliva
June 1,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Noun
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But, in a democracy, deciding whether the creation of the fund violates the moral maxim that no one can be a judge in his or her own cause ultimately will be up to the people.—
Austin Sarat,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
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As the maxim says, De gustibus non disputandum est.—
Ray Ravaglia,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
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Everything in mathematics therefore rests on the axioms, or basic building blocks, of the field.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
26 May 2026
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One may argue that a more fundamental theory (with more complete axioms) could decide the question, but the final theory should not have undecidable statements.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Her belief in a universal truth was not unique, but her pursuit of it was relentless and oddly self-erasing.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
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The time traveler hopes to warn him and save his life, but is confronted with a painful truth.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motto. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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