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
Relevance
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
That look has become a byword for French girl style and continues to influence designers like Hedi Slimane, who showcased his spring 2023 collection for Celine in Saint-Tropez.
—
Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 Dec. 2025
How did hocus pocus transform from the stage name of a magician (and it should be said, an accomplished juggler, according to Ady) to a byword for the entire craft?
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Auschwitz has become a byword for the mass murder and bestiality of the Nazi regime.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The melting of the vast polar ice sheets has become a byword for climate change; these giant frozen landscapes hold enough water to cause catastrophic sea level rise and are experiencing alarming changes as temperatures increase.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 Dec. 2025
How did hocus pocus transform from the stage name of a magician (and it should be said, an accomplished juggler, according to Ady) to a byword for the entire craft?
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Auschwitz has become a byword for the mass murder and bestiality of the Nazi regime.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The melting of the vast polar ice sheets has become a byword for climate change; these giant frozen landscapes hold enough water to cause catastrophic sea level rise and are experiencing alarming changes as temperatures increase.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Then Buttered Popcorn dethroned it in 1998, bumping the cherry classic from its perch.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
-
From popular chain restaurants to quick, convenient favorites, plenty of spots will be open on Easter Sunday, serving everything from brunch classics to comfort food staples.—
Doris Alvarez Cea,
Florida Times-Union,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Indeed, barely any words are exchanged.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
There was no word on if the mother did name the baby Kennedy.—
Jeff Capellini,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Call it manifestation, call it delusion (lovingly), call it a coping mechanism for ambition, but dressing for your future self is quietly becoming one of the most powerful styling frameworks of this moment.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For more of the science behind optimism and manifestation, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But as the saying goes, one data report is just a signal; two is a pattern; three months, really, is what tells you the trend.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, there’s a saying among gardeners that perennials sleep, creep, leap.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Neither of these models seems ideal for the small new town.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
According to Mikus Leghy, the model will be membership based, where seniors can pay a fee to get access to services.—
Sierra Knoch,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sí Se Puede is the iconic motto of the United Farm Workers of America, which was founded by both Chavez and Huerta.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The display, accompanied by the motto Growing America Since 1862, reportedly cost taxpayers $16,400.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After portraying Alabaster, down to his pearly-white surname, as the apotheosis of white male villainy, Cash deflates him by arguing, essentially, #NotAllMen.—
Malavika Kannan,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
-
For this Welsh immigrant family rose from nothing to produce an American icon who mastered a distinctly American art form — the ultimate apotheosis of the American Dream — and who is, ironically, the most miserable of them all.—
Ben Croll,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
