exclamation

noun

ex·​cla·​ma·​tion ˌek-sklə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce exclamation (audio)
Synonyms of exclamationnext
1
: a sharp or sudden utterance
2
: vehement expression of protest or complaint

Examples of exclamation in a Sentence

Her unexpected announcement caused a few exclamations of surprise. the good news was greeted with a chorus of joyous exclamations
Recent Examples on the Web
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Their callouts vacillated from descriptions riddled with scientific jargon to exclamations of awe and joy. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026 His statement, which horrified Americans and those watching abroad, followed days of similar exclamations, including multiple threats to destroy power plants and bridges in Iran. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 8 Apr. 2026 Leon's order, which also included a number of exclamation marks, said the government must get congressional approval before continuing the project. Arden Farhi, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026 One of the headiest things about Adult Braces is how West’s prose style was pickled in the mid-2010s, so her use of caps lock and exclamation marks acted on me as a powerful Proustian madeleine. Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exclamation

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exclamation was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exclamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exclamation. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

exclamation

noun
ex·​cla·​ma·​tion ˌeks-klə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce exclamation (audio)
1
: a sharp or sudden cry of strong feeling
2
: a strong expression of anger or complaint

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