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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discourse
Monique Wilson, Glamour, 12 June 2025
And as the news has sparked fierce debate and dialogue online, those tools have played an outsize role in the discourse.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 12 June 2025
Lucy Ford, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
And when extreme weather happens, discourse on those conspiracy theories tend to spike, Wagner told CNN.
—Ramishah Maruf, Brandon Miller, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Noun
As long as a contestant is not a danger to others, or peddling hate speech, then there is room for discourse.
—Monique Wilson, Glamour, 12 June 2025
And as the news has sparked fierce debate and dialogue online, those tools have played an outsize role in the discourse.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 12 June 2025
Verb
After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May and taking home the coveted Jury Prize and a joint Best Actress prize for its female ensemble (the three aforementioned performers plus Adriana Paz), discourse around Emilia Pérez lit up like a New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
And when extreme weather happens, discourse on those conspiracy theories tend to spike, Wagner told CNN.
—Ramishah Maruf, Brandon Miller, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourse
Noun
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This conversation has been edited for length, clarity and continuity.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Nonetheless, the missing performers were lectured by Richard Grenell, Trump’s new president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—a man with, inevitably, no experience in any of them—that performers must perform for people of all political parties.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
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At the Cooper Union in New York in November, Sumner again lectured on Adams’s theory, while a group of Republicans and radical abolitionists sat behind his podium on the stage.—
Zaakir Tameez
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
Verb
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But six months is still a long time to remember who everybody is on a show with dozens of speaking roles, most of them played by actors in identical jumpsuits, and/or wearing masks.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
27 June 2025
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The legendary filmmaker promised this on Thursday night in Los Angeles, speaking at an intimate and high-powered event where Universal Pictures unveiled a grand new screening room named for the director.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
That urgency was reinforced during a discussion of recent federal action.—
Marvin Krislov,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
On Monday, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony welcomed the sheriffs to the county, while FBI director Kash Patel and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche held a discussion on how local law enforcement can work with the federal government.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Verb
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This means learning when to step back, when to feel and when to talk, as well as when to turn it off.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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File photo: Donald Trump stops and talks to the media on the South Lawn at the White House on June 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Verb
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Coaches, who represent their schools, are strongly encouraged to work with officials rather than harangue them.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
21 May 2025
-
Angela was introduced in the series premiere as the ex-wife of Tommy Norris (played by Billy Bob Thornton), seen only in haranguing FaceTime calls.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Liv Hewson ended up wearing the pink converse sneakers.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
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The chatbot converses with patients while simultaneously reviewing their medical records, then generates a ranked list of diagnoses and makes recommendations, such as for prescription drugs or lab tests.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Phoenix Suns have acquired center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the No. 29 pick on Wednesday and a 2029 first-round pick.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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Instead, the Wizards undercut both Florida franchises, drafted and traded Clayton to Utah in exchange for the No. 21 pick and multiple second-round picks.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourse. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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