as in idioms
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
kids drawing literal representations of the phrase "to rain cats and dogs"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in words
to convey in appropriate or telling terms
he had trouble thinking of how to phrase his question for the visiting dignitary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phrases
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Ethan began learning to express himself through a combination of short spoken phrases and pointing to icons on a tablet.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dynamic contrasts were boldly drawn, but phrases and passages were also beautifully tapered, up and down, when they were meant to.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
The first text contains different kinds of phrases and clauses, while the second text repeats the same clause structure four times.
—Laura Aull, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Even as Southern cooking evolves, these phrases continue to pop up—in social media comments, kitchens, and conversations—sometimes unexpectedly, but always in a way that brings people together.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Since 2018, when the sports-betting ban was overturned, internet searches for phrases like Am I addicted to gambling?
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Some ignited fireworks and others spoke from a bullhorn or spray-painted anti-ICE phrases on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
In essence, the Iowa and West Virginia sports cases ask the court to rule whether a transgender girl – a person assigned male at birth who has transitioned to align with their identity as a girl or woman, as the AP Stylebook phrases it – is a girl or a boy.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Extract phrases from calls, build frameworks from notes, convert DMs to posts.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Swift, who declined to comment, has among the most extensive trademark portfolios in the entertainment industry, with more than 170 active or pending registrations spanning names, phrases and commercial designations.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Ethan began learning to express himself through a combination of short spoken phrases and pointing to icons on a tablet.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dynamic contrasts were boldly drawn, but phrases and passages were also beautifully tapered, up and down, when they were meant to.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
The first text contains different kinds of phrases and clauses, while the second text repeats the same clause structure four times.
—Laura Aull, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Even as Southern cooking evolves, these phrases continue to pop up—in social media comments, kitchens, and conversations—sometimes unexpectedly, but always in a way that brings people together.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Since 2018, when the sports-betting ban was overturned, internet searches for phrases like Am I addicted to gambling?
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Some ignited fireworks and others spoke from a bullhorn or spray-painted anti-ICE phrases on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
To this day, people come up to him and quote phrases his character used to utter.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
In essence, the Iowa and West Virginia sports cases ask the court to rule whether a transgender girl – a person assigned male at birth who has transitioned to align with their identity as a girl or woman, as the AP Stylebook phrases it – is a girl or a boy.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Extract phrases from calls, build frameworks from notes, convert DMs to posts.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phrases
Noun
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If the assignment is to translate something from a foreign language, there are plenty of tools and resources that can do it for you, including by recognizing and figuratively translating idioms.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
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Those books introduced me to a vision of American teenage life and taught me the rhythms and idioms of American English, nuances that would later replace my Britishisms and shape my career as a journalist.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Residents living outside of those eight Southeast Michigan counties will also see fuel savings, Whitmer says, because those counties are already allowed to sell cheaper fuel blends without a waiver.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The goal, says co-founder Zach Lentsch, is to get those scorecards in the hands of every single resident hunter in the state.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Andrew Harnik / Getty Images The president is fond of Bondi, and expresses personal affection for her in private conversations, multiple sources said earlier this week.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phrases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrases. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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