as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
that old adage, "the early bird gets the worm"
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Recent Examples of adage
The plus for Wrexham comes via the old adage ‘form is temporary but class is permanent’, with O’Connell having featured in 11 of those 12 clean sheets in the league this season and Cleworth in 10.
—
Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm, as the popular adage reminds us.
—Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
Here, 18 members of Forbes Coaches Council share powerful maxims, sayings, phrases and adages founders can turn to when challenges arise.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
So far, his orchards were on pace with the adage of reaching 15-25% bloom by Valentine’s Day.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adage
Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm, as the popular adage reminds us.
—Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
Here, 18 members of Forbes Coaches Council share powerful maxims, sayings, phrases and adages founders can turn to when challenges arise.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
So far, his orchards were on pace with the adage of reaching 15-25% bloom by Valentine’s Day.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adage
Noun
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The German proverb, roughly translated into English, means: Steady dripping caves the stone.—
Gabby Herzig,
The Athletic,
2 Jan. 2025
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But remember, where there’s fire, there’s smoke, which may be a reversal of the standard proverb but is highly relevant here.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Chris Goettl, vice president of security product management at Ivanti, meanwhile, said that in the Midwest there’s a saying about March which goes in like a lion, out like a lamb.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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Buy the rumor; sell the news, as the old saying goes.—
Ben Walsh,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The word has carried both literal and metaphorical meanings (like inspiration or a small beginning of something) since early usage.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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People with limited connection to the group where the word originated may not fully understand what the word means, how it is pronounced, or how it is used.—
Sarah Bunin Benor,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Bringing out the Dickensian maxim about the worst of times abutting the best hardly begins to do justice to such an abrupt reversal of fortune.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2025
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And Jim came up with a maxim for the ones about politics.—
Al Franken,
TIME,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adage. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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