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
  • The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister An eerie fable that seems to take place across and outside of time, The Bog Wife is already a classic of the modern bog-core genre.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Its Lotus and Talisman collections, alongside solitaires and diamond classics, are being developed as recognizable signatures that can be worn, layered and collected over time.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of classic
Noun
  • Their responses were not edited and are in the candidates’ own words.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The best power pop is simple, direct, and memorable, in both words and sound.
    — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of word
Noun
  • Turns out, Shakespeare didn’t have to decide, because the story works equally well whether the reader believes the figure is ectoplasm in the castle courtyard or is a psychological manifestation of Hamlet’s nagging conscience.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The demonstrations became a more widespread manifestation of anger and anxiety about education, employment, and general livelihood issues.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of manifestation
Noun
  • As the saying goes, hurt people hurt people, and Pam hurts a whole lot of people.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Carnegie Hall seats well over 3,000 people, but this intense, no-frills performance film gives life to the old saying about feeling alone in a crowd.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of saying
Noun
  • By 2023, with tensions mounting between Israel and Hamas, Qatari officials pressed for a different model, one that would deliver assistance to Gazans without making civilians dependent on either Hamas or the Israeli government.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • For a complicated model with multiple color changes, the waste can become substantial.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 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
  • The first two Democratic Presidents during the Valley’s apotheosis, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, presented themselves as technology-friendly futurists, and the Valley supported their campaigns and helped staff their Administrations.
    — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The story of theory, from its birth in France to its unlikely apotheosis in America, is a tale rich not just in ideas but—ironically, given the Frenchmen’s generally antihumanist stance—human drama.
    — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of apotheosis

Browse Nearby Words

byways
byword
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Cite this Entry

“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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