as in conversation
talking or a talk between two or more people
Thomas Jefferson is said to have been able to participate in knowledgeable discourse on a breathtaking array of subjects
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to lecture
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
the guest lecturer discoursed at some length on the long-term results of the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to speak
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech
grandly discoursed as though he were an expert on every subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of discourse
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
Whenever a new award show hits, tons of discourse about the makeup and outfits that celebs wear fill my social media feed.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
Glamour, 12 May 2025
Hypothetical question sparks discourse Celebrity eaglets growing up fast as internet watches on: Meet Sunny and Gizmo
River otters usually live up to 12.9 years in captivity, according to Oregon Zoo.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Noun
Most conventional leaders would try to change the public narrative and discourse by trying to promote good news and create positive examples.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
Whenever a new award show hits, tons of discourse about the makeup and outfits that celebs wear fill my social media feed.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
During the broadcast Hudson interrupted a question about their relationship, leading to backlash and discourse over her role in the coach’s professional life.
—Glamour, 12 May 2025
Hypothetical question sparks discourse Celebrity eaglets growing up fast as internet watches on: Meet Sunny and Gizmo
River otters usually live up to 12.9 years in captivity, according to Oregon Zoo.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourse
Noun
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Some teens worry that relying on AI for emotional support could make real conversations harder.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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These physiological responses are now part of a wider conversation about rising instances of school avoidance among neurodiverse adolescents.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sometimes the messages got feisty, with Epstein lecturing Karp over a fee.—
Tom Schoenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Masons were members of the Congregational Church where Codding lectured.—
Susan DeGrane,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Though mirroring Mette-Marit’s own words, his comments speak to the significant public pressure facing the family, royal experts say.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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As the officers spoke with the victim in the front yard, someone opened fire on them from the back of the residence with a semiautomatic long rifle.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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No, the Heat never got deep into discussions for Ja Morant.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Final discussions are underway as Colorado moves toward possible changes to how SNAP benefits work in the state.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders said at trial that the custody exchange on the day of the shooting was a ruse for Payne to talk his way back into Lane's life.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
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Keith Law is doing a live chat today to talk MLB prospects.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The tone was all the more remarkable because Desmond had previously spoken admiringly of Rodgers’ coaching capabilities and did not harangue him as supporters did when Rodgers abruptly left Celtic for Leicester City in 2019.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
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Truman would never have harangued the international community that America is First, or obstructed every effort to better the lot of humanity by asking what’s in it for the U.S., not in coming decades but during this news cycle.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The hush in public spaces isn't intimidating and there are myriad cozy places to sit and converse.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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Three boldly distinct but equally strong upholstery selections converse easily with one another in this mise-en-scène, and the lighthearted purple, pink, and white leopard print on the window seat cushion keeps pace with the other prints without overwhelming any of them.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
More often, though, Tallent demonstrates his characters’ precarity rather than declaiming about it.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Providence doesn’t give you a Latin teacher for a mother without consequence: Samy declaimed classical locutions with scandalous ease.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourse. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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