as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
her mother endlessly repeated the apothegm "cleanliness is next to godliness"
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Recent Examples of apothegm
As with every Together Live speaker, each apothegm is met with exuberant applause.
—
Zoë Ghertner, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2019
Zoë Ghertner, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apothegm
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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On his plane plastered with Trumpian epigrams, Vance makes the case for Trump’s second-term vision of enhanced executive power.—
Eric Cortellessa,
TIME,
26 Sep. 2024
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No one could tell the clock by him; no one could quote an epigram of his; no one could ever remember his being a friend of their daddy—or even their granddaddy.—
E. L. Doctorow,
The New Yorker,
1 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Apothegm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apothegm. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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