proverb

noun

ˈprä-ˌvərb How to pronounce proverb (audio)
Definition of proverbnext
as in saying
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion

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 proverb 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 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 But perhaps the night’s theme was best summed up by a proverb, not from Italy, but Coventry’s native continent. — Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 7 Feb. 2026 And there’s a proverb, this idea of the secret of getting old. — Renée Onque, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for proverb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proverb
  1. saying
  2. word
  3. maxim
  4. adage
  5. aphorism
  6. motto
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
  • In the United Kingdom, the maxim known as Murphy’s law is commonly referred to as Sod’s law.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • That line is more than a practical outdoor maxim.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of maxim
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
Noun
  • Cruyff came up with many aphorisms over the course of his life.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • In romance, Tolstoy’s aphorism about the family is reversed.
    — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
Definition of aphorism
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

Browse Nearby Words

provender
proverb
proverbs
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Cite this Entry

“Proverb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proverb. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on proverb

Nglish: Translation of proverb for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about proverb

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