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"
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of byword
West Ham, Prague aside, have become a byword for underachievement.
—
Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Over the past five years, El Salvador has gone from a byword for dysfunction in American politics to a potential model for some, particularly for those on the Right.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Feb. 2025
At home the story of Norway’s infamous Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name has become a byword for traitor, stirred intense public debate and ended up as the third biggest Norwegian film of 2024.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
As part of the Panasonic empire, Technics was once a byword for hi-fi in the 1980s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Over the past five years, El Salvador has gone from a byword for dysfunction in American politics to a potential model for some, particularly for those on the Right.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Feb. 2025
At home the story of Norway’s infamous Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name has become a byword for traitor, stirred intense public debate and ended up as the third biggest Norwegian film of 2024.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
As part of the Panasonic empire, Technics was once a byword for hi-fi in the 1980s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
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The difficulty that arises is reminiscent of the old proverb about blind men groping different parts of an elephant.—
Dan McLaughlin,
National Review,
6 May 2025
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Even the most nonsensical attempts at new proverbs resulted in a confident explanation from Google's AI Overview, created right there on the spot.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The 1985 classic spent two weeks at No. 1 during its original run and remains one of five chart-toppers for the band.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
16 May 2025
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When the Wires Go Dead: Why Spain’s Train Crisis May Spark a Hydrogen Future In the middle of the day on 28 April 2025, Spain lived a modern replay of the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.—
Marianne Lehnis,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The promise of power to the people is still in the Constitution, and those words will be there forever.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2025
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And on the brink of elimination, the Avs amped up the pressure to force the best two words in sports: Game 7.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Noun
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The musician’s spotting was part side quest, part manifestation.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
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Fortunately, the man did not develop this even more serious manifestation of the disease.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 May 2025
Noun
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As the old saying goes, blood — and directorial instincts — are thicker than water.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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An old saying suggests a series isn’t a series until the road team wins a contest on the opponent’s home floor.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Don't just grab the first random model that pops up on Amazon, though, as some just aren't that great.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
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Other industries that have also taken advantage of young people’s vulnerability with similar business models have been regulated to some degree, Sunderland said, citing the example of the tobacco or alcohol industries being required to put warning labels on products.—
Shanzeh Ahmad,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
Noun
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The jacket also has the club motto Fino Alla Fine printed on it to demonstrate the club’s constant pursuit of excellence.—
Vitas Carosella,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The secretary’s remarks echoed an earlier motto from Trump’s first administration, which pursued more moderate trade policies, and marked a departure in tone from just three weeks ago, when the president announced massive tariff increases on countries around the world.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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A bit later, Federer and Nadal and Djokovic took over, and people thought that was the game’s apotheosis.—
Thomas Swick,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2025
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As far as men’s clothes are concerned, the apotheosis for me was between the Edwardian era—Victorian had a few too many frills, a bit too heavy—and the 1920s, the jazz age, with its freedom, a bit of laissez faire, a bit of inventiveness.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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