as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience her mother endlessly repeated the apothegm "cleanliness is next to godliness"

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 apothegm As with every Together Live speaker, each apothegm is met with exuberant applause. Zoë Ghertner, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apothegm
Noun
  • But Bluey’s comforted when Calypso tells her a proverb about a farmer who trusts everything will turn out the way it’s meant to be.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Whitaker nicknamed the place Sparrow Hall, a reference to a medieval saint’s proverb about a sparrow who flies over a royal banquet, feeling only a brief moment of warmth.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Prioritize Continuous Education To Build Inclusive Leadership Skills The saying goes that knowledge is power; as such, inclusive leaders already know that one of the tenets of success is continuous education.
    Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • But as the saying in Hindi goes, you’re not allowed to be offended on Holi. Covered in yellow, a woman celebrates on the outskirts of Amritsar.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In a word, Sri Lanka has defied the odds and emerged significantly stronger from the dark days of the 2022 revolution.
    Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Investigators say a man approached a group of people on a sidewalk and exchanged words before a weapon was fired, FOX 5 reported.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
    Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Apothegm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apothegm. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!