byword

noun

ˈbī-ˌwərd How to pronounce byword (audio)
Definition of bywordnext
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

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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

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 No patriots so defaced America as those who, in the name of Americanism, launched a witch hunt that became a byword around the world. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 For most of the past decade the giants of cloud computing were a byword for not needing anyone's money. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 With her gutsy disposition and ice-blond braids, the Mother of Dragons became a byword for female empowerment, not to mention a costume party staple (both Madonna and Khloe Kardashian have donned the Daenerys getup). — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 29 May 2026 Marant launched her label and had her first show in 1994, quickly becoming a byword for a hip, womanly brand of boho chic. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
  1. proverb
  2. classic
  3. word
  4. manifestation
  5. saying
  6. model
  7. motto
  8. apotheosis
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
  • If ordering à la carte, opt for Hanoian classics like phở bò and bún thang.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Watch On In this Canadian cult classic that doubles as a coming-of-age story, a sardonic goth transforms into a werewolf in the days leading up to Halloween and terrifies her younger sister.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of classic
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 store was designed by Storage Milano in partnership with Tommasi Bardelle and is a physical manifestation of the brand.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • While invisible themselves, these cosmic behemoths reveal their presence by bending the light of nearby objects, and the Black Hole Hunters project is searching for one specific manifestation of this effect.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of manifestation
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
  • Next, the researchers developed a simplified model that reproduced the observed rotation and current increase.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The vicious cycle of the current model, of course, is that to become marketable a team needs to get and retain good players, and to do that a school has to spend money, which cycles the whole thing back to the start.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of model
Noun
  • This year your motto is ‘An Eye for It,’ to spotlight your unique cultural curation remit.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • And now there are secrets that are imparted during the rituals, like the secret of what the meaning of the motto is, and that sort of thing.
    — Richard Hall, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of motto
Noun
  • Ren Faire, a 2024 docuseries Oppenheim shot for HBO about the succession crisis at the Texas Renaissance Festival, marked the apotheosis of this strategy.
    — Alex Barasch, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The apotheosis of this aesthetic of thirstiness is found in the paintings of Catherine Mulligan.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of apotheosis

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Cite this Entry

“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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