adage

noun

ˈa-dij How to pronounce adage (audio)
Definition of adagenext
as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience that old adage, "the early bird gets the worm"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 adage The adage goes that a series doesn’t start until the home team loses, so the Dodgers will have their chance to hold serve as the NLCS shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3, 4 and (if necessary) 5. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 That old adage is certainly true for fashion’s most expensive piece of real estate. — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 Tech concentration There's an adage on Wall Street that the stock market is not the economy. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 Expect greed, luck, obsession and the old adage that fortune really does favor the brave (and the strange, according to A+E). — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adage
  1. proverb
  2. saying
  3. word
  4. maxim
Noun
  • In American sports, namely college and professional football, head coaches often land on one singular proverb after a victory.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The underlying lesson of the proverb dates back at least to the time of the first Olympics in Greece — nearly 3,000 years ago, for those counting at home.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of proverb
Noun
  • Isn’t the saying that a tight end is a young quarterback’s best friend?
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • That saying, however, turns out to be true on a number of levels, with an increasing volume of research supporting the statement.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of saying
Noun
  • The season isn’t over yet, but Bethune has one word to describe her first year in Kansas City so far.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Karl also asked Moore to share a few words that came to mind about other potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of word
Noun
  • The mindful alignment of body and mind is the guiding maxim of the spa.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • There’s little evidence that Ampere Analysis’ maxim, coined a couple of years ago – a contracting sector chasing a 75% of peak TV business – has not changed.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of maxim

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Cite this Entry

“Adage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adage. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adage

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