as in proverb
a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group
"Hope for the best and prepare for the worst" is my motto. The Scout motto is "Be prepared."
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Recent Examples of motto
Our original motto made no claim about what Americans believed about God.
—
David Williamson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
The campaign motto, Her Şey Çok Güzel Olacak (Everything will be fine) now sounded sad.
—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
9 June 2026
The motto has afforded them a 13-game postseason win streak as the NBA Finals swings to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4.
—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2026
My motto actually comes from coming up in restaurant world.
—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motto
David Williamson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
The campaign motto, Her Şey Çok Güzel Olacak (Everything will be fine) now sounded sad.
—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
9 June 2026
The motto has afforded them a 13-game postseason win streak as the NBA Finals swings to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4.
—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2026
My motto actually comes from coming up in restaurant world.
—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motto
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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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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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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That line is more than a practical outdoor maxim.
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But that’s the world’s most popular game in 2026, intent on testing the old coaching maxim that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
Noun
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But whether that axiom applies to the quadrennial World Cup tournament is a different question.
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Furthermore, this equality isn’t just a formal, mathematical axiom.
Noun
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The jurors mostly determine the truth except when there is no truth, as with the nonexistent hot-dog contest or gift competition.
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Then, distribute or post a recap with these decisions and commitments included to serve as a single source of truth.
Cite this Entry
“Motto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motto. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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