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
Frederick Dreier, Outside, 7 Aug. 2025
That is quite a brazen ROI calculation and deserves more public discourse.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
This is utter nonsense, and discourse about practically any new game on the market has become so toxic that staying off the internet entirely is the only way avoid it.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Noun
The question dominated social media discourse for a few weeks back in 2024, generating an impressive tonnage of Internet hot takes, and many women opting for the bear.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 7 Aug. 2025
That is quite a brazen ROI calculation and deserves more public discourse.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Hypothetical question sparks discourse Celebrity eaglets growing up fast as internet watches on: Meet Sunny and Gizmo
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
This is utter nonsense, and discourse about practically any new game on the market has become so toxic that staying off the internet entirely is the only way avoid it.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourse
Noun
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So in the first season, there were a lot of conversations about [it].—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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But decades ago, Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, were the center of conversations for their marriages to then Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, respectively, and also because of the relationship between them.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Two hours later, she was heard lecturing the children.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
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The single most on-the-nose sequence — though there are many — has an unrestrained Christopher Lloyd as a Holocaust survivor conveniently situated to lecture young Clay about the genocidal reality of his experience.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Kenyan President William Ruto, in a June letter to the council, spoke about the need for more and better equipment, and more funding and personnel.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
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Fewer than 40% of people calling the main Social Security Administration line are able to speak to a representative.—
Beth Finkel,
New York Daily News,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Earlier in the day, Trump indicated his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
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Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Android in the last seven days.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ramírez-Garofalo, a young man with dark hair, large forearms, and the beginnings of a goatee, drove and talked fast.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
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In West African traditions, the drum serves as both a musical instrument and a talking messenger, transmitting proverbs, praises, and official announcements in a language that reinforces the chief’s authority and the community’s history.—
Felicia Appenteng,
semafor.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The White House spent the first part of this week downplaying speculation that the president would fire Powell, even as Trump continued to harangue him on social media for leaving interest rates unchanged.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
24 July 2025
-
Weeks after that House hearing, the Fed lowered rates a quarter point, but Trump kept haranguing and insulting Powell, calling for even more easing.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
19 July 2025
Noun
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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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Between March 2022 and Wei’s arrest in August 2023, the spy allegedly paid Wei thousands of dollars in exchange for photographs and videos of the Essex, information about the location of various Navy ships and details about the Essex’s defensive weapons, according to prosecutors.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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American chipmakers Nvidia and AMD agreed to pay the US government 15% of their revenues from semiconductor sales to China in exchange for export licenses.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourse. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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