variants
also mottos
as in sayings
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottoes
Some signs listing off team mottos – like staying humble and focusing on themselves — have been taken down over doors.
—
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Before that there had been three mottoes, all traditional rather than official.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Over time, it's only woven itself deeper into the fabric of American cultural consciousness, spawning new memes, mottos, and social media trends each year.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
These pithy mottos are accompanied by three state seal recommendations that look as though they had been composed during kindergarten just before nap time.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Before that there had been three mottoes, all traditional rather than official.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Over time, it's only woven itself deeper into the fabric of American cultural consciousness, spawning new memes, mottos, and social media trends each year.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
These pithy mottos are accompanied by three state seal recommendations that look as though they had been composed during kindergarten just before nap time.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottoes
Noun
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That these sayings are meant to reflect something both deep and asinine about the film itself is self-evident.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
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Today, the writings come in the form of cards and sweet sayings on candy.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For nine months, Erasmus spent his short nights in a modest dorm and his long days in the print shop, expanding on his collection of proverbs Adagiorum chiliades while Aldus proofread, craftsman carefully laying sets of print and rolling paper through the press.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
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Includes quirky facts, adages, advice, quotes and proverbs, as well as articles about mistletoe, bird nests, perennials, timekeeping, recipes and more.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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As, no doubt, will Wrexham fans reading those words.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Ross has said that $65 million in federal funding that would be vulnerable if the city did not act, and that the city had already lost a $50,000 grant because words implying inclusion were used.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Maybe anyone planning long journeys should take those maxims as advice anyhow.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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The rest of the book is spent expanding on these maxims one by one, in her colloquial, easy style, with references to classic psychological studies, her own research and her own experiences.—
Lamorna Ash,
The Dial,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mottoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottoes. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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