in so many words

phrase

1

: using exactly those terms

implied that such actions were criminal but did not say so in so many words

2

: using plain forthright language

In so many words, she wasn't fit to be seen.

—Jean Stafford

Examples of in so many words in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s not quite the same as being sent to the unemployment line, but make no mistake — this is the Red Wings firing Yzerman as GM, in spirit if not in so many words. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for in so many words

• birds
• curds
• herds
• kurds
• nerds
• sherds
• thirds
• bluebirds
• catchwords
• keywords
• loanwords
• passwords