proverbial

adjective

pro·​ver·​bi·​al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl How to pronounce proverbial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
2
: that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of
the proverbial smoking gun
proverbially
prə-ˈvər-bē-ə-lē How to pronounce proverbial (audio)
adverb

Examples of proverbial in a Sentence

Insanity roamed through her large midwestern tribe, cloistered in proverbial dark closets in gabled houses in areas of the country where no one else lived for miles and miles … —Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991
I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of the proverbial man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1990
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
So this new approach is like the proverbial pendulum swinging away from a concentration on senior candidates being selected. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 What's the backup plan should inclement weather rain on their proverbial parade? — Payton Titus, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2026 Turns out, the proverbial runt of the litter may have an edge. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Asked what the secret sauce is to effecting a brand turnaround of this magnitude, Shamah said a key is to start by inviting the consumer behind the proverbial velvet rope. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proverbial

Word History

Etymology

see proverb entry 1

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of proverbial was in 1548

Rhymes for proverbial

See All Rhymes for proverbial

Browse Nearby Words

pro-verb
proverbial
proverbialist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proverbial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proverbial. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

proverbial

adjective
pro·​ver·​bi·​al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl How to pronounce proverbial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
proverbial wisdom
2
: commonly spoken of
the proverbial beginner's luck
proverbially
-bē-ə-lē How to pronounce proverbial (audio)
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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