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
The melting of the vast polar ice sheets has become a byword for climate change; these giant frozen landscapes hold enough water to cause catastrophic sea level rise and are experiencing alarming changes as temperatures increase.
—
Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The event became a byword in the militia movement, influencing Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Soho House: From cool London origins to global influence
Founded on London’s Greek Street in 1995, Soho House rapidly became a byword for luxury, exclusivity, and a vibrant creative scene.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
Before Wales’ women’s teams were given names on the back of their shirts in 2019, Fishlock’s was the one people could reel off, a byword for Welsh women’s football.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The event became a byword in the militia movement, influencing Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Soho House: From cool London origins to global influence
Founded on London’s Greek Street in 1995, Soho House rapidly became a byword for luxury, exclusivity, and a vibrant creative scene.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
Before Wales’ women’s teams were given names on the back of their shirts in 2019, Fishlock’s was the one people could reel off, a byword for Welsh women’s football.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for byword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byword
Noun
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The lyrics, some inspired by proverbs and biblical passages, convey the fervor of his first love with God, without losing his personal touch.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
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His tale has become a proverb for any outdoor fanatic who, despite all of the proper planning and preparation, is undone by forces more powerful than him or herself.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The kitchen is led by partner/chef Charbel Hayek and executive chef Gustavo Montes and will feature sashimi and nigiri, grilled main dishes and other contemporary interpretations of Japanese classics, with occasional nods to South Florida flavors.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
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The show, which ran in two six-part series, in 1975 and 1979, was a huge hit in Britain and went on to become a cult classic in the United States.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But Emery’s words about passing too quickly do bear resonance.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Many criticized that Bell's words seemed to downplay domestic violence, which was particularly offensive during Domestic Violence Awareness month.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This cul-de-sac at the end of civilization feels like a physical manifestation of the loneliness Carol radiates even before the cataclysmic incident.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
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Given the disease’s wide range of trajectories and manifestations—from mild and manageable to severely disabling—some now regard it as a group of diseases, rather than a single one.—
Lucinda Rosenfeld,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But as the saying goes, the best ability is availability, and Ertz has proven to be one of the most frequently available and productive tight ends in the history of the sport.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The system works in bacteria, human cells, and even live tumor models, offering a safer and more precise alternative to traditional techniques.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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The model wore two looks that night, including an eye-turning pink two-piece lingerie set with a sparkly bustier and lacy boy briefs.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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My motto will be to seek first to understand before making decisions.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
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Consistency over intensity is the Pvolve motto.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Binet’s Porte was duly constructed late the following year and marked a kind of apotheosis of natural design incorporated within architecture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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The engine and chassis trace their roots back to the mid-1990s, steadily refined year after year until this apotheosis.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Byword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byword. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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