proverb

noun

ˈprä-ˌvərb How to pronounce proverb (audio)
Definition of proverbnext
as in saying
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Popeye the Sailor Man has been guzzling spinach since 1931 to build muscle, while the apple-a-day advice derives from a 19th-century Welsh proverb. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 5 May 2026 The old proverb about pride coming before a fall continues to wreck modern boardrooms for a reason. — Kevin Brady, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026 The characters liberally use puns, proverbs, and film songs to communicate their thoughts and feelings, and sometimes switch between languages to make a point. — Literary Hub, 16 Apr. 2026 In Indonesian folklore, durian also often appears in proverbs and riddles. — JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proverb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proverb
  1. saying
  2. word
  3. maxim
  4. adage
  5. aphorism
  6. motto
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
  • 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
  • Groups of implicatures Grice identified three broad groups of implicatures generated through the observance, violation, or flouting of maxims in keeping with the cooperative principle.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Living by a maxim that equated failure with opportunity, Brees exhibited a knack for turning tribulation into triumph.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of maxim
Noun
  • Expect greed, luck, obsession and the old adage that fortune really does favor the brave (and the strange, according to A+E).
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Reuters As the midterms approach, the Iran war is challenging the adage that foreign policy is only a secondary thought as voters weigh the factors influencing their decisions.
    — Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of adage
Noun
  • Richardson discusses how his early fascination with science and his enjoyment of science fiction has influenced his poetry and considers the way his aphorisms counterbalance his more lyric poems.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • At one point, Lowe and Rogan joked about the hoary aphorism that says anyone who isn’t a liberal at 25 has no heart, but anyone who isn’t a conservative by 35 has no head.
    — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026
Definition of aphorism
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

Browse Nearby Words

provender
proverb
proverbs
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on proverb

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about proverb

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