as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
what does the aphorism "Hindsight is 20/20" mean?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 aphorism
Nietzsche spoke through Zarathustra, aphorisms, and self-contradiction.
—
Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
And this aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable, as the natural logic of international relations reasserting itself.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 1975, Eno and the artist Peter Schmidt devised a deck of a hundred cards, each printed with a blunt aphorism intended to crack open some creative conundrum.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2025
Which brings us back to the twin aphorisms that began this piece.
—George Pesansky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
And this aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable, as the natural logic of international relations reasserting itself.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 1975, Eno and the artist Peter Schmidt devised a deck of a hundred cards, each printed with a blunt aphorism intended to crack open some creative conundrum.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2025
Which brings us back to the twin aphorisms that began this piece.
—George Pesansky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aphorism
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
The decal features a common saying in intelligence circles.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
More than a saying, pura vida is a guiding philosophy that honors simplicity and sustainability, and celebrates the deep-rooted connection between people and their environment.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His words were underscored when police in Israel stopped Catholic leaders from celebrating a private Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been crucified.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the maxim applies in a different way in the documentary Fork in the Road, which made its world premiere Saturday at the Sonoma International Film Festival in California’s wine country.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Mar. 2026
-
By now, decades into Americans’ pursuit of cooking as a mainstream hobby, certain maxims have become near-law among food lovers.—
Emily Heil,
Washington Post,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aphorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aphorism. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
