as in vocabularies
a reference book giving information about the meanings, pronunciations, uses, and origins of words listed in alphabetical order
try to develop the habit of going to the dictionary whenever you encounter an unfamiliar word
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Recent Examples of dictionaries
Password candidates came from custom dictionaries with as many as eight words, common keyboard patterns, and cracking rules.
—
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 17 June 2026
Although dictionaries are imperfect, their definitions are the result of the rigorous study of word meaning and adherence to the scientific process of lexicography, the practice of writing and editing dictionaries and other reference materials.
—Phillip M. Carter, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
Virginia’s Supreme Court majority sought an answer in dictionaries, which define the word as the act or process of choosing.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
The club supplies 1,000 dictionaries each year for third graders at 10 Darien schools, as well as supports leadership training for high school students, NAMI DuPage, Humanitarian Service Project food for senior citizens in Darien, recycling events and environmental grants.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
No screens, online dictionaries, spellcheckers or delete keys.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Following a few more years of work, the lexicographer—a studier or compiler of dictionaries—transferred his entire project online for anyone to peruse.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
During middle age, researchers considered household resources like magazine subscriptions, dictionaries, and library cards, and how often the participants visited a museum or library.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
Christmas hams, party cocktails, elegant layer cakes, and cookout classics fill the dictionaries of Southern family recipes, but one of my favorites is a simple vinaigrette from my grandmother.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 17 June 2026
Although dictionaries are imperfect, their definitions are the result of the rigorous study of word meaning and adherence to the scientific process of lexicography, the practice of writing and editing dictionaries and other reference materials.
—Phillip M. Carter, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
Virginia’s Supreme Court majority sought an answer in dictionaries, which define the word as the act or process of choosing.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
The club supplies 1,000 dictionaries each year for third graders at 10 Darien schools, as well as supports leadership training for high school students, NAMI DuPage, Humanitarian Service Project food for senior citizens in Darien, recycling events and environmental grants.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
No screens, online dictionaries, spellcheckers or delete keys.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Following a few more years of work, the lexicographer—a studier or compiler of dictionaries—transferred his entire project online for anyone to peruse.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
During middle age, researchers considered household resources like magazine subscriptions, dictionaries, and library cards, and how often the participants visited a museum or library.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
Christmas hams, party cocktails, elegant layer cakes, and cookout classics fill the dictionaries of Southern family recipes, but one of my favorites is a simple vinaigrette from my grandmother.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictionaries
Noun
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But more variations of Austronesian languages have been identified in Taiwan, accompanied with more intricate grammatical structures and expansive vocabularies, which has provided insights for linguists.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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The Moxley case has effectively been told three times across three different American vocabularies.—
Kate Casey,
Vanity Fair,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The evening leant into the 2016 King Kylie vibe—Kylie herself donned a bubblegum pink wig and matching latex dress—but Kendall and Hailey stayed firmly in their more understated style lexicons.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
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Anyway, Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language, to my mind, is the most astonishing of lexicons ever produced in any tongue.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictionaries. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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