1
as in voice
an act, process, or means of putting something into words
the poem is his expression of his grief upon the loss of his beloved wife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling
we could tell by the fans' expressions that the Chicago Cubs had lost again
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in term
a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field
the expression "John Doe" is used in legal proceedings to refer to a person whose actual name is either unknown or being withheld from the public
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in phrase
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
the popular expression "raining cats and dogs" is meaningless in other languages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expression
The expressions range from the smiling and the spirited to the stoic.
—
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 14 June 2026
February 19 – March 20 Which feeling wants gentle, creative expression?
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
Beth's expression immediately hardens.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
That being said, when a younger craft distillery is able to release a 10-year-old expression, that is a meaningful milestone.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 14 June 2026
February 19 – March 20 Which feeling wants gentle, creative expression?
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
Beth's expression immediately hardens.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
That being said, when a younger craft distillery is able to release a 10-year-old expression, that is a meaningful milestone.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
Noun
-
In January 2025, The Athletic obtained a voice recording from the Department of Justice that showed Mizuhara attempting to push through a $200,000 wire transfer from one of Ohtani’s accounts.—
Sam Jane,
New York Times,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Songwriter Ejae, who provides the singing voice for Rumi and co-wrote five of the album’s seven original songs, spent more than a decade as a trainee for SM Entertainment before turning to songwriting.—
Eliza Berman,
Time,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The premiere of another hit sitcom is what made Louis-Dreyfus consider her appearance, but, by then, Elaine's look had been crafted.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Its classic look is perfect for layering over a thermal shirt or slipping under a cute cardigan.—
Jacquelyn McGilvray,
PEOPLE,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Trump tore that deal up during his first term.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The phrase is commonly used in restaurant kitchens and originated at soda counters in the 1930s, according to the dictionary.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
As part of our Language of Soccer World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to supporters of all 48 nations competing at the 2026 edition to capture their unique football culture, distilled into a single phrase.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The study had tested three different formulations of its new shot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
These formulations are generally better for sensitive and acne-prone skin.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
In photos, he is often captured with a beaming smile — at the base of a mountain topped by cascading waterfalls, bowling at the Royal Crest Lanes in Lawrence.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
-
The Japanese even brought their own trash bags and picked up after themselves –– with a smile on their faces.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Two sides of the building are clad in giant words, the letters 5 feet tall, drawn from his 2015 speech marking the 50th anniversary of the civil rights marches from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
The ambiguity of Chinese, the way meaning pools in the spaces between words, resists translation.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Mercedes designs its latest luxury models in China to incorporate Chinese tastes and cultural idioms, debuting them exclusively at Chinese auto shows.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
9 June 2026
-
The Suez Canal incident of March 2021 revealed the same pattern in a different idiom.—
Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
