as in saying
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion
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 proverb
Each pair of shoes has a script with a Swahili proverb or saying.
—
Erinne Magee, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024
And this proverb reminds me of hip-hop, and this proverb reminds me, in particular, of Tribe because Tribe was born out of friendship.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2024
This old Iranian proverb does not actually warn people against travel to Gilan, Iran’s beautiful, green, and lush Caspian province, though today that meaning may be more apt.
—Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2020
Indeed, according to one version of the political proverb attributed to Pyotr Stolypin, the pre-revolutionary prime minister of the Russian Empire, in a year, everything in the country changes; in a century, nothing changes.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for proverb
Erinne Magee, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024
And this proverb reminds me of hip-hop, and this proverb reminds me, in particular, of Tribe because Tribe was born out of friendship.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2024
This old Iranian proverb does not actually warn people against travel to Gilan, Iran’s beautiful, green, and lush Caspian province, though today that meaning may be more apt.
—Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2020
Indeed, according to one version of the political proverb attributed to Pyotr Stolypin, the pre-revolutionary prime minister of the Russian Empire, in a year, everything in the country changes; in a century, nothing changes.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for proverb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proverb
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 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
-
Bringing out the Dickensian maxim about the worst of times abutting the best hardly begins to do justice to such an abrupt reversal of fortune.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2025
-
And Jim came up with a maxim for the ones about politics.—
Al Franken,
TIME,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, on March 10th, the NASDAQ 100 had its worst day since 2022 losing 3.8% and proving the adage that investors hate uncertainty.—
Michael Brown,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Hartman says there’s an adage among homebuilders and owners that building a new home takes twice as long and costs twice as much, however, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Even so, virtually every one of its paragraphs contains a sensible and quotable aphorism.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The book, taking the form of a fable told in short, single paragraphs, scattershot swatches of wisdom, aphorisms and illustrations, has long been a manual for how to practice togetherness in the face of extreme, oppressive opposition.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them,
20 Jan. 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
Articles Related to proverb
Cite this Entry
“Proverb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proverb. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share