as in principle
formal
a statement or well-known remark that expresses an important idea, observation, or opinion
A doctor must follow the dictum of "First, do no harm."
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Recent Examples of dictum
The dictum is Beijing’s most substantive retaliation yet to Sanae Takaichi’s remarks.
—
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
But today the dictum applies to Israel, as well.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
Not that Wolfe’s dictum was totally off the mark.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
WarGames and The Matrix, each in its own quite different way, follow the classic dictum that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
—Jeremy Dauber, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
But today the dictum applies to Israel, as well.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
Not that Wolfe’s dictum was totally off the mark.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
WarGames and The Matrix, each in its own quite different way, follow the classic dictum that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
—Jeremy Dauber, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictum
Noun
-
International humanitarian law mandates the principles of distinction, proportionality, and necessity, but the opaqueness of drone operations, particularly outside active battlefields, challenges these principles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
If governments operated with Hayekian principles in mind, there would be more robust commitments to checks-and-balances to ensure government doesn’t overreach.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Opponents to the change, however, say there will be no easy way to ensure people are following these rules, and various state gun laws, when mailing easily concealable handguns.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Energy experts in Sardinia are also working with policymakers to change the rules around grid-connection requests.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The democratization of drone warfare complicates traditional counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, requiring new doctrines, technologies, and legislative frameworks to confront the evolving threat landscape.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
Under the doctrine, federal judges should refrain from entertaining constitutional challenges to a state’s action when there are ongoing state proceedings.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Trust but Verify The old Ronald Regan axiom is so true for business.—
Domenic Rom,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Andrea Riquier Among serious Fed-watchers, there’s an axiom that new central bank chairs usually face a crisis early in their term.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For example, a West Virginia law passed in early 2025 gives teachers more power to exclude disruptive students from their classrooms.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Rebecca Miller, the executive director of DC Preservation League, has spent 23 years at the organization, which sued to stop the golf course takeover and joined a coalition attempting to force the Kennedy Center to comply with preservation laws.—
Steven Sloan,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Oakland County township supervisor Chris Barnett said Tuesday that restaurants are starting to get permission to re-open, although local officials ask that food service be on carry-out rather than dine-in basis for now.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 34 months in a row.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
But that maxim may not hold up this year.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictum. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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