as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
what does the aphorism "Hindsight is 20/20" mean?
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Recent Examples of aphorism
The marketing taglines that bear the same force and resonance as elders’ aphorisms: 1010 WINS, American Express, Calgon.
—
Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
The dollar, on the other hand, is everyone’s problem, to paraphrase an aphorism from John Connally, the former U.S. Treasury secretary.
—Barry Eichengreen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2022
Ben Whishaw, shot in black and white, says his name is Arthur Rimbaud and speaks in aphorisms to some unknown interlocutor.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
There is an aphorism in football that goals win games, but defence wins titles.
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
The dollar, on the other hand, is everyone’s problem, to paraphrase an aphorism from John Connally, the former U.S. Treasury secretary.
—Barry Eichengreen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2022
Ben Whishaw, shot in black and white, says his name is Arthur Rimbaud and speaks in aphorisms to some unknown interlocutor.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
There is an aphorism in football that goals win games, but defence wins titles.
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aphorism
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
“Aphorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aphorism. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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