as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
what does the aphorism "Hindsight is 20/20" mean?
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Recent Examples of aphorism
In 1975, Eno and the artist Peter Schmidt devised a deck of a hundred cards, each printed with a blunt aphorism intended to crack open some creative conundrum.
—
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2025
Which brings us back to the twin aphorisms that began this piece.
—George Pesansky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
The aphorism is likely to be particularly appreciated by those residents of increasingly common micro-apartments, who otherwise might be without a residence, or sharing a living space with parents or roommates.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Pathei mathos, which appears in Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon, is an aphorism about wisdom.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2025
Which brings us back to the twin aphorisms that began this piece.
—George Pesansky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
The aphorism is likely to be particularly appreciated by those residents of increasingly common micro-apartments, who otherwise might be without a residence, or sharing a living space with parents or roommates.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Pathei mathos, which appears in Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon, is an aphorism about wisdom.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aphorism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aphorism
Noun
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What does the phrase squeaky bum time, the racehorse Devon Loch, and the Portuguese proverb ‘morrer na prais’ all have in common?—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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The rooms The old Japanese proverb ‘*kachou fuugetsu’—*which translates as ‘flower, bird, wind, moon’ evoking a sense of the transient beauty of nature—is a key concept at the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While Haiti is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean, the saying is often used to reflect the immense and constant obstacles Haiti has had to overcome.—
Kathleen Rellihan,
Outside,
15 Mar. 2026
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Slopes don’t have to be a problem The saying goes that Kansas is flat.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Oscar Grabbing his third trophy of the night, Paul Thomas Anderson joined his jubilant cast (including Teyana Taylor, literally jumping for joy) onstage and got the last words of the night.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Use more than five bold-type words.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There are three problems with this maxim.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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Still, that leaves a substantial audience who will find much to enjoy in this grisly yet sensitive take on the old maxim that every baby is different.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aphorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aphorism. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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