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
Before 2022, Ukraine was a byword for corruption: a resource-rich klepto-state in the no-man’s land between the EU and Russia.
—
Dominic Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
To some initial consternation, a Texan actor named Renée Zellweger is cast as the UK’s essential heroine, a character who, by then, is already globally understood to be a byword for contemporary, cosmopolitan womanhood.
—Hugh Grant, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for byword
Dominic Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
To some initial consternation, a Texan actor named Renée Zellweger is cast as the UK’s essential heroine, a character who, by then, is already globally understood to be a byword for contemporary, cosmopolitan womanhood.
—Hugh Grant, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
-
It’s been codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, epigrams, parables; the skeleton of every great story.—
Jann E. Freed,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
The Giants have one of the least-talented and most expensive offensive lines in the entire NFL There's an old NFL proverb that suggests games are won and lost in the trenches.—
Geoffrey Knox,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Noun
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The film didn’t perform well, but the soundtrack has become a cult classic, and now, The Pick of Destiny has become a commercial success.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
The Steven Spielberg classic is celebrating its 50th anniversary, the creature feature birthing the modern-day summer blockbuster on June 20, 1975.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Embrace Personal Accountability Being credible and responsible means keeping your word and following through on your promises in a timely manner.—
Cheri Rainey,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Describing Seabreeze Craft Chocolates’ limited edition Dubai Chocolate Sandwich Cookies in words is a humbling exercise.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 July 2025
Noun
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These methods address not just the emotional but the physical manifestations of moral injury and foster long-term resilience.—
Yujia Zhu,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Wimbledon is the tennis manifestation of this attitude, the sensible friend who likes to call it a night early.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
Remember the old saying: Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
As the saying goes, crisis represents both danger and opportunity.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
The Double Shot made our reviewer's hair nice and smooth while giving it volume, and managed to give less frizz than other models.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
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Map migration priorities to outcomes such as accelerating innovation, enabling real-time analytics or supporting new digital business models.—
Chetan Mathur,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Kotb's work motto, written on an office wall, alludes to the names of her daughters.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 July 2025
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And as time went on, more people — fans, media, announcers — latched on to the motto, using it as a taunt when the opportunity arose.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
That night was the apotheosis of the superteam era.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
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Trump and conservatives, overall, are obsessed with tarring California — to them, the apotheosis of liberalism — as a violent, lawless, anti-American hellscape.—
Max Taves,
Mercury News,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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