as in proverb
a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group
"Hope for the best and prepare for the worst" is my motto. The Scout motto is "Be prepared."
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Recent Examples of motto
Marion, 37, has lived that motto, relaying on sports as a positive outlet growing up, having overcome bouts of homelessness as a college football player and throughout his cross-country tours as a fast-rising coach.
—
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
Their motto translates to ‘territory, traditions, resilience.’ Sardinia’s northern terrain once generated bulk quantities of Malvasia and Moscato grapes that were sold to a large cooperative.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Not the government, whose motto ought to be: No boondoggle left unfunded.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
For a guy who lived on the motto of being a great teammate, winning that World Series will always be Memory No. 1.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motto
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
Their motto translates to ‘territory, traditions, resilience.’ Sardinia’s northern terrain once generated bulk quantities of Malvasia and Moscato grapes that were sold to a large cooperative.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Not the government, whose motto ought to be: No boondoggle left unfunded.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
For a guy who lived on the motto of being a great teammate, winning that World Series will always be Memory No. 1.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motto
Noun
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It’s been codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, epigrams, parables; the skeleton of every great story.—
Jann E. Freed,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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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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Remember the old saying: Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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As the saying goes, crisis represents both danger and opportunity.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Noun
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In this superb biography, Joanne Paul goes back to the words More wrote himself, to try and get at More before fame and the accusations against him took hold.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
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Friends and family flooded the comments with words of sympathy and cherished memories of Page.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Kennedy’s views of individual ingredients oscillate between commonsense dietary maxims and conspiratorial musings.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
23 June 2025
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The maxim for so long in international trade has been to remove all sand from the gears.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
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To prove those true statements, mathematicians would have to add a new axiom.—
Gregory Barber,
Quanta Magazine,
20 June 2025
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In his first inaugural address in 1933, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid out a political axiom that would come to shrewdly diagnose America's thorny brand of insularity.—
Clare Morell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
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That’s the harsh truth no one tells you early enough.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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The reports proved spurious, but Gordon still saw an emotional truth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motto. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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