as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience
it's a common maxim that "a watched pot never boils," but that's not literally true
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 maxim
Everything bops breezily along, stopping occasionally to have Dek growl maxims about strength through domination, and observe a decapitation or two.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Visitors who travel down a dirt road to The Hollow — named for the hollow-core concrete that made Mellor wealthy — can enter the compound through a dark, cavernous passage lined with neon signs illuminating maxims from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Flynn.
—Arthur Allen, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Visitors who travel down a dirt road to The Hollow — named for the hollow-core concrete that made Mellor wealthy — can enter the compound through a dark, cavernous passage lined with neon signs illuminating maxims from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Flynn.
—Arthur Allen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The Sonicare brushing app is proof that this maxim couldn’t be truer.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maxim
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Visitors who travel down a dirt road to The Hollow — named for the hollow-core concrete that made Mellor wealthy — can enter the compound through a dark, cavernous passage lined with neon signs illuminating maxims from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Flynn.
—Arthur Allen, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Visitors who travel down a dirt road to The Hollow — named for the hollow-core concrete that made Mellor wealthy — can enter the compound through a dark, cavernous passage lined with neon signs illuminating maxims from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Flynn.
—Arthur Allen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The Sonicare brushing app is proof that this maxim couldn’t be truer.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maxim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maxim
Noun
-
And there’s a proverb, this idea of the secret of getting old.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
26 Nov. 2025
-
For nine months, Erasmus spent his short nights in a modest dorm and his long days in the print shop, expanding on his collection of proverbs Adagiorum chiliades while Aldus proofread, craftsman carefully laying sets of print and rolling paper through the press.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Turnovers come in bunches, the saying goes.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Kids can be cruel, as the old saying goes.—
Dr. Mahvash Madni,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Knueppel beamed slightly when those words were relayed to him.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
-
However, the application must only include a 500-word description of the idea and an informal video that is no longer than three minutes summarizing the idea.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
What is your motto or philosophy of life?—
Point Loma-Ob Monthly,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Our motto is always to try to do something that no one’s ever done before.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
For the Guardian writer, the question was a rare refutation of Betteridge’s law, the journalistic adage stating that any headline ending in a question mark can be answered with a no.—
Hermione Hoby,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But just like the adage that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others, merit is the worst form of assessment except all the others.—
Kenji Yoshino,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maxim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maxim. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
