byword

noun

ˈbī-ˌwərd How to pronounce byword (audio)
Definition of bywordnext
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

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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 No patriots so defaced America as those who, in the name of Americanism, launched a witch hunt that became a byword around the world. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 For most of the past decade the giants of cloud computing were a byword for not needing anyone's money. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 With her gutsy disposition and ice-blond braids, the Mother of Dragons became a byword for female empowerment, not to mention a costume party staple (both Madonna and Khloe Kardashian have donned the Daenerys getup). — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 29 May 2026 Marant launched her label and had her first show in 1994, quickly becoming a byword for a hip, womanly brand of boho chic. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
  1. proverb
  2. classic
  3. word
  4. manifestation
  5. saying
  6. model
  7. motto
  8. apotheosis
Noun
  • In American sports, namely college and professional football, head coaches often land on one singular proverb after a victory.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The underlying lesson of the proverb dates back at least to the time of the first Olympics in Greece — nearly 3,000 years ago, for those counting at home.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of proverb
Noun
  • For first-timers seeking big Catskills scenery, the Escarpment Trail to Kaaterskill Falls is the classic, with dramatic overlooks and waterfalls that explain why people have been coming to these mountains for generations.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Pocket Books and Penguin Books therefore specialized in classics that were in the public domain and in reprinting commercial and genre fiction, primarily mysteries, science fiction, and Westerns.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of classic
Noun
  • Furnari recalled that some of the song’s early music and lyrics came together quickly, but writing words that could do justice to their experience was another matter.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Bad word set in not just here but around the world, a 180 to the vibrant critical reaction and audience reception on One Battle After Another (94% certified fresh, A CinemaScore).
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of word
Noun
  • The hotel just opened, so maybe that’s what accounts for it, but there’s a real atmosphere of excitement, and the staff seems to want to represent the greatest manifestation of the Four Seasons brand.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The curtain that officials brought down to prevent witnesses seeing Pike’s suffering is merely the visible manifestation of a process that is hidden from voters by design.
    — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of manifestation
Noun
  • The old saying goes that rotation is the lifeblood of a bull market.
    — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Good fences might make good neighbors, as the old saying goes, but would a silk fence make a good fence?
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of saying
Noun
  • Trust took another nosedive when OpenAI’s agents attacked Hugging Face this summer and, in a world-first, a rogue model hacked the Australian Government’s website.
    — Yerbol Orynbayev, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Future product expansion for Scout For now, the Traveler and the Terra models are the main priority.
    — Chase Jordan October 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of model
Noun
  • Today’s event featured free merch that included Carhartt shirts, yellow hoodies, and camouflage hats featuring mottos such as Keep the future human and Pro-Human.
    — Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026
  • This year’s motto for the 39th Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy stated by Outi Rehn, program director, and Pauliina Ståhlberg, executive director, says it all.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of motto
Noun
  • The first two Democratic Presidents during the Valley’s apotheosis, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, presented themselves as technology-friendly futurists, and the Valley supported their campaigns and helped staff their Administrations.
    — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The story of theory, from its birth in France to its unlikely apotheosis in America, is a tale rich not just in ideas but—ironically, given the Frenchmen’s generally antihumanist stance—human drama.
    — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of apotheosis

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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