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
The hope that this motto refers to is the hope of the resurrection – of life triumphing over death – as reflected in the golden cross.
—
Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
The display, accompanied by the motto Growing America Since 1862, reportedly cost taxpayers $16,400.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
For the first 50 years, that seemed to be the club’s unofficial motto.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026
That observation, made in a CharlotteFive feature on Brooks’ Sandwich House, could serve as the unofficial motto of a city that has spent the better part of two decades in a full sprint toward the future.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motto
Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
The display, accompanied by the motto Growing America Since 1862, reportedly cost taxpayers $16,400.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
For the first 50 years, that seemed to be the club’s unofficial motto.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026
That observation, made in a CharlotteFive feature on Brooks’ Sandwich House, could serve as the unofficial motto of a city that has spent the better part of two decades in a full sprint toward the future.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motto
Noun
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What does the phrase squeaky bum time, the racehorse Devon Loch, and the Portuguese proverb ‘morrer na prais’ all have in common?—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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The rooms The old Japanese proverb ‘*kachou fuugetsu’—*which translates as ‘flower, bird, wind, moon’ evoking a sense of the transient beauty of nature—is a key concept at the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As the saying goes, any publicity is good publicity.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
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There is an old saying that people who represent themselves in court effectively have a fool for a lawyer.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The game’s objective is to group words or objects into four groups of four based on commonalities within each group as quickly as possible.—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Pause briefly, choose your words with intention, and stay on point.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the maxim applies in a different way in the documentary Fork in the Road, which made its world premiere Saturday at the Sonoma International Film Festival in California’s wine country.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Mar. 2026
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By now, decades into Americans’ pursuit of cooking as a mainstream hobby, certain maxims have become near-law among food lovers.—
Emily Heil,
Washington Post,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Andrea Riquier Among serious Fed-watchers, there’s an axiom that new central bank chairs usually face a crisis early in their term.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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An axiom can also be accepted for plenty of other reasons, as Maddy put it — such as for its power to generate interesting theorems.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Max is one of the great composers of our time, and his work has a depth and emotional truth that has the potential to break our hearts.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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But a closer inspection reveals a more unsettled, human process of establishing truth.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motto. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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