gnomic
1 Americanadjective
adjective
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like or containing gnomes or aphorisms.
-
of, relating to, or noting a writer of aphorisms, especially any of certain Greek poets.
adjective
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consisting of, containing, or relating to gnomes or aphorisms
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of or relating to a writer of such sayings
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gnomic1
First recorded in 1805–15; gnome 1 + -ic
Origin of gnomic2
From the Greek word gnōmikós, dating back to 1805–15. See gnome 2, -ic
Explanation
A phrase that's short, catchy, and clever can be described as gnomic. Your grandmother's famous gnomic aphorisms include "Pet a cat and you've got a job for life!" The root of this word is the Greek gnome, "an opinion." Ancient Greeks had an entire genre devoted to what they called gnomes (today generally referred to as gnomic poetry): pithy, meaningful phrases that rhymed. Gnomic verse started out expressing strong moral and religious opinions. These gnomes have evolved into truisms and adages that are easy to remember but not always widely understood, like the gnomic idea that "a penny saved is a penny earned."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Alonso is a difficult person to read, and he can be gnomic when he speaks.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Wittgenstein’s central thesis is bold and bracing, while his gnomic aphorisms invite multiple, contradictory interpretations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025
The movie does signal its darkly comedic aims from the moment we first see the actor’s gnomic man-child frown, which by now is a ready signifier of emotional and psychological deficiency.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2023
Less successful is Mark Rylance as a strange tech titan named Peter Isherwell, an eminence grise of prominent white teeth, Julian Assange-like hair and irritatingly gnomic pronouncements.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 7, 2021
I wasn’t sure what to make of this gnomic utterance.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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