1
as in voice
an act, process, or means of putting something into words
the poem is his expression of his grief upon the loss of his beloved wife
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling
we could tell by the fans' expressions that the Chicago Cubs had lost again
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in term
a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field
the expression "John Doe" is used in legal proceedings to refer to a person whose actual name is either unknown or being withheld from the public
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in phrase
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
the popular expression "raining cats and dogs" is meaningless in other languages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expression
And Motel Destino is a very Brazilian expression of poisonous masculinity.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The Berlinale has long been considered a forum for political expression and a crucible for debate about important world affairs, but avoiding political comment has seemingly been a trend at this year’s event, whether by chance, design or out of fear.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Another option is to remain stoic and hold your expression, letting your eyes do the work of signaling that the request isn’t welcome.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Nobody at the center expected these expressions of gratitude and love, which for some, brought back childhood memories.
—Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The Berlinale has long been considered a forum for political expression and a crucible for debate about important world affairs, but avoiding political comment has seemingly been a trend at this year’s event, whether by chance, design or out of fear.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Another option is to remain stoic and hold your expression, letting your eyes do the work of signaling that the request isn’t welcome.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Nobody at the center expected these expressions of gratitude and love, which for some, brought back childhood memories.
—Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
Noun
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As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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Similarly, millions of women whose married names don't match with the name on their birth certificates or passports would face extra steps just to make their voices heard, the Brennan Center cautions.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Of course, the look was finished with her chunky engagement ring—an 18-carat yellow-gold band with a two-carat diamond.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In terms of making things happen, energy is an indispensable consideration.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Trump’s second term has been marked by rallies against ICE across the country.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While some terms or phrases may linger for centuries, most of today’s slang terminology is more current.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Over and over, Lowell junior Cayden Yuran has heard the phrase and repeated it back.—
Noah Poser,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The cadence would be right, the vocabulary impeccable, the formulations reassuringly familiar.—
Walter Quattrociocchi,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
-
This question has a beautiful formulation called the unitary synthesis problem.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Assad couldn’t contain a smile when talking about getting to pitch for Mexico again next month in a bigger role as one of their top arms.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Some American viewers were pulled into it by a boring—and slightly embarrassing—poster of Harrison Ford, smirking in a suit, while a loyal Melanie Griffith clings to his shoulder and Sigourney Weaver, as befits her role of nemesis, gives a wicked smile.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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One word kept coming up among women who talked about their journeys in those years.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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Silver knows that strong words and six-figure fines might not be nearly enough to compel struggling teams to commit to real competition instead of improving their odds in what’s expected to be one of the deepest drafts in recent history — and that’s why the NBA is looking at stronger solutions.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Those books introduced me to a vision of American teenage life and taught me the rhythms and idioms of American English, nuances that would later replace my Britishisms and shape my career as a journalist.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Next to the particularities of place—the Midwest, the South—or enmeshed with it, are the particularities of language, of idiom, and ways of saying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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