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
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Recent Examples of discourse
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Work-life balance today dominates workplace discourse, and now outranks pay as a top motivator for job seekers, according to Randstad.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 23 Jan. 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
Although political discourse often triggers stress, the Party Line project hopes to facilitate meaningful and kind conversations that activate happiness-boosting neurotransmitters.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Work-life balance today dominates workplace discourse, and now outranks pay as a top motivator for job seekers, according to Randstad.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 23 Jan. 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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For that reason, Democrats are demanding that any compromise be codified into law, and so far, Republicans are entertaining the conversation.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
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Other conversations sound quaint, like one where a bot complains about its human, while some are bizarre, such as one from a bot that claims to have a sister.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In her car, Jessica Gabriel’s Lady is an avid listener of DJ Revolution, a fictional radio DJ who lectures passionately about the struggles of modern-day life in Nigeria.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
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At her event, Acosta will lecture and facilitate a discussion about the Jeanes Supervisors.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 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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The coastal cyclone is expected to bring moderate to heavy snow, along with high winds and possible blizzard conditions for the Carolinas through Saturday night, the weather service's Weather Prediction Center said in a forecast discussion.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
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Right before the crash, discussions captured on the cockpit voice recorder indicated that the pilot wanted the landing gear to be launched.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the industry now begins talking seriously about agentic AI, a more independent and decision-capable form of artificial intelligence, the question is no longer whether AI will reshape cars, but how far it should be allowed to go.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Many survivors have been helped by talking things through with a licensed psychotherapist.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 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
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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
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More often, though, Tallent demonstrates his characters’ precarity rather than declaiming about it.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
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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 7 Feb. 2026.
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