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"
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of byword
Once tourist fodder, the musical has remained a byword for hokey commercialism.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Leeds United versus Chelsea in the 1970 FA Cup final’s replay stands as a byword for brutality.
—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
However, Fleet Street’s legacy lives on, as a byword for the United Kingdom s national newspapers.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
20 Apr. 2026
And there’s working with people who are not exactly palatable, but who have significant sway in the region—like Dan Gertler, a billionaire Israeli businessman whose name has long been a byword for shady deals in Congo.
—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for byword
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Leeds United versus Chelsea in the 1970 FA Cup final’s replay stands as a byword for brutality.
—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
However, Fleet Street’s legacy lives on, as a byword for the United Kingdom s national newspapers.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
20 Apr. 2026
And there’s working with people who are not exactly palatable, but who have significant sway in the region—like Dan Gertler, a billionaire Israeli businessman whose name has long been a byword for shady deals in Congo.
—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
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The reason can be explained by a Japanese proverb about the importance of leaving no mess.
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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.
Noun
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The first two movies established themselves as genre classics, combining heart-stopping action with futuristic sci-fi that explored the threat of AI bringing about an apocalypse.
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Today, Culinary Hill has grown into a site that’s 1,379 recipes strong, including classics such as sloppy joes and slow cooker meatballs with grape jelly sauce.
Noun
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When word spread that Swift attended Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley's 2023 wedding on the New Jersey shore, hundreds of fans and photographers descended on the quiet beach community.
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Review a bill, then send a polite message that clarifies terms, because simple words protect value and invite respectful responses.
Noun
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Your question is a manifestation of handwringing, and so, yeah, a lot of people don’t pay attention to it, and that’s okay, and a lot of people do, and that’s better.
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Meta’s compute business is also the latest manifestation of the circular economy in the AI race, like SpaceX’s recent decision to rent out data center space to Anthropic.
Noun
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One popular saying suggests a knot tied on a rainy day is harder to untie.
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But your abhorrence of the outcomes of particular elections doesn’t justify your saying, Well, the hell with that.
Noun
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While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
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Many of Haaland’s bags are actually Haut à Courroies (HAC), the model that the Birkin is based off, but with a slightly taller and narrower profile.
Noun
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The motto described something that already existed.
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Summer’s less is more motto rings especially true when a 90-degree afternoon is forecasted; a mini tank or spaghetti-strap midi will be a reliable choice to take the guesswork out of getting dressed.
Noun
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Lost Lantern’s passion for sourcing whiskey from every corner of this great land of ours has reached its apotheosis with its tribute to America on its 250th birthday, The United States Of Bourbon.
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This latter-day diner is true to the genre, down to its Formica, chrome and gum-cracking soul, with breakfast understood as the apotheosis of the day and the almost supernaturally fluffy pancakes, anointed in syrup and salted honey-maple butter, available until closing time.
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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