1
as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
Mom's favorite byword is "You can get more flies with honey than with vinegar"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in classic
the most perfect type or example
nationally, Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive has become a byword for luxury retailing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 byword
At home the story of Norway’s infamous Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name has become a byword for traitor, stirred intense public debate and ended up as the third biggest Norwegian film of 2024.
—
Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
As part of the Panasonic empire, Technics was once a byword for hi-fi in the 1980s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
At times this season, Newcastle have been a byword for inconsistency, but Tottenham take that distinction to a whole other level.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Leverkusen, the club that used to be a byword for failure, enjoy winning too much to stop now.
—Rafa Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 14 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for byword
Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
As part of the Panasonic empire, Technics was once a byword for hi-fi in the 1980s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
At times this season, Newcastle have been a byword for inconsistency, but Tottenham take that distinction to a whole other level.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Leverkusen, the club that used to be a byword for failure, enjoy winning too much to stop now.
—Rafa Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 14 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
-
The German proverb, roughly translated into English, means: Steady dripping caves the stone.—
Gabby Herzig,
The Athletic,
2 Jan. 2025
-
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
-
The brand’s timeless styles and classic, English aesthetic fit perfectly into the world of Hill House.—
Emily Mercer,
WWD,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Sip on the Pineapple Suite, a tropical nod to Season 1; The Lotus, a sophisticated tribute to Taormina’s allure; Coconut Paradise, a taste of Koh Samui’s dreamy shores; or The White Lotus Gimlet, an elevated take on a classic with coconut lotus syrup.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
This year marks the first significant new manifestation of enterprise AI for healthcare.—
Simon Mainwaring,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
While Trump’s opponents may view that attitude as one more manifestation of his autocratic instincts, his complaint is grounded in legitimate concerns about the separation of powers that presidents of both parties have raised for many years.—
Jacob Sullum,
Orange County Register,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Buy the rumor; sell the news, as the old saying goes.—
Ben Walsh,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The two most visible competitors, Samsung and Apple, do have models that sit between the vanilla and the Pro handsets, but their difference is a larger screen with the same performance as the vanilla model.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Well, the set of the Valentino show was a red room where models waited inside bathroom stalls, which was reportedly inspired by the late great film director David Lynch, who worked with Naomi Watts on the 2001 film, Mulholland Drive.—
Aamina Inayat Khan,
StyleCaster,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Hill: ‘No pain, no gain’ is the motto of the new Trump economy.—
Jonathan Easley,
The Hill,
13 Mar. 2025
-
This is not only impacting performance and productivity rates (though productivity rebounded at the end of 2024), but such work cultures can be counterproductive to the motto of efficiency.—
Maria Gracia Santillana Linares,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
To some, Meghan cheering on Waters’ rosemary-hugging could been seen as the apotheosis of West Coast foodie pretentiousness, if the chef didn’t appear so sincere in her affections.—
Martha Ross,
The Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2025
-
So, for that matter, is the recognizable Tim Horton’s Donut Shop sign written out in Farsi — a visual joke that doubles as the apotheosis of Rankin’s cross-cultural exchange program.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share