EN

Synonyms for apothegm

  • noun

Most common

maxim proverb adage aphorism

All synonyms

Noun

1. Aphorism — A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim

aphorism, saying, maxim, proverb, adage, dictum, byword, sentence, gnome, precept, truism, axiom, saw dated

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim.

Related words

Other spellings
apophthegm UK

Forms

Plural
apothegms → aphorisms, sayings, maxims, proverbs…

Choose the right word

Apothegm or Aphorism?

An apothegm is a terse statement of what is plain or easily proved. The aphorism is philosophical, the apothegm practical.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • maxim He worked in his favorite maxim.
  • proverb I want to know the meaning of this Berber proverb.
  • adage There must always be two parties to a quarrel, says the old adage.
  • aphorism "Time is money" is very true as an aphorism.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
apothegmsteady
maximsteady
proverbrising
adagerising
aphorismrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
saw1
5 letters
maxim2, gnome1, adage2, axiom3
6 letters
saying2, dictum2, truism3, byword2
7 letters
proverb2, precept2
8 letters
sentence2, aphorism4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (maxim2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
apophtegme
Italiano
apoftegma
Español
apotegma
Deutsch
Apophthegma