1
as in expressed
to convey in appropriate or telling terms
I'm trying to couch this delicately: I don't think we should date anymore
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Recent Examples of couched
Their work was only ever couched as an intelligence program, not a munitions or weapons platform.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
This outlook is refreshing, even if it is ultimately couched in fantasy.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
One associate dean couched the misstep as a result of learning pains tied to the adoption of new technology.
—Emily Hodgson Anderson, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
And no matter what anyone does to look younger, Miller wants women to stop with the negative self-talk about aging that’s often couched in seemingly harmless jokes.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Her efforts to come to terms with polyamory are couched as a political project—part of being an open-minded liberal—as much as a romantic one.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2026
The Golden State Warriors coach couched his criticism Saturday by clarifying that SGA was merely exploiting the system.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The way the story is being couched, Audi is going to build its new TT coupe whether Porsche forges ahead with the 718 EV or not.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 19 Feb. 2026
Republicans often couched their fury at speech restrictions — around right-wing cultural politics and COVID-19, in particular — as part of a broader critique of corporate power.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
This outlook is refreshing, even if it is ultimately couched in fantasy.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
One associate dean couched the misstep as a result of learning pains tied to the adoption of new technology.
—Emily Hodgson Anderson, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
And no matter what anyone does to look younger, Miller wants women to stop with the negative self-talk about aging that’s often couched in seemingly harmless jokes.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Her efforts to come to terms with polyamory are couched as a political project—part of being an open-minded liberal—as much as a romantic one.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2026
The Golden State Warriors coach couched his criticism Saturday by clarifying that SGA was merely exploiting the system.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The way the story is being couched, Audi is going to build its new TT coupe whether Porsche forges ahead with the 718 EV or not.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 19 Feb. 2026
Republicans often couched their fury at speech restrictions — around right-wing cultural politics and COVID-19, in particular — as part of a broader critique of corporate power.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for couched
Verb
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While markets expect the committee to be on hold the rest of the year, officials themselves still have penciled in a cut and Warsh has expressed support for lower rates as well.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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Thematic ambition, a sense of the something to be expressed beyond a central romance, rivalry, or farce, propels modern musical hits too, as in Hairspray, or Wicked, or (no duh) Hamilton.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The young defender then crouched down and touched the ball with both hands, stopping it on the edge of the six-yard box.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Jinsu Elhance, a geospatial data scientist with SPUN, crouched to hammer the 7-inch-long metal cylinder into the soil.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Slow down enough to actually hear what’s being said, not just the surface of it.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But experts, including Malik, said that regulatory delays are a key deterrent for South Korean companies looking to invest in India.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The opening act had started playing—a local band that never broke out, Sacagawea—but Russ and Cherry just huddled a little closer and kept talking.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
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Even if your space doesn’t already have a campsite vibe, the right furniture and accoutrements can make your guests feel like they’re huddled around the fire anywhere.—
Rachel Davies,
Architectural Digest,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the question on the ballot will be phrased differently.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
It’s phrased in a way that sounds perfectly logical.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Murray Rothbard, a libertarian economist who advised Buchanan, had articulated a similar imperative.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Ralph Gleason, the Chronicle music critic who mentored Wenner and co-founded the magazine with him, articulated the position that the rock revolution should be taken as more than just teenage whimsy.—
James Sullivan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The singer had retired from performing after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 40 years ago, the outlet stated.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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His résumé also stated that he was employed from 2012 to 2017 at Freedom Middle School in Berwyn as a physical education teacher, Plainfield school officials said.—
Alicia Fabbre,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Piker remains largely unapologetic for his past remarks, although he's said some were poorly worded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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State election code requires ballot measures be neutrally worded.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Couched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/couched. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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