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
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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
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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
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4
as in phrase
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
the popular expression "raining cats and dogs" is meaningless in other languages
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of expression
Stewart’s rapt attention to Poots’s powerful extremes of expression is at odds with the dramatic unfolding of character along with narrative.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
As part of the search for the monogamous ideal, or an expression of anxiety about commitment, the practice is often time-limited.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
The objective is to create a healing dialogue through sound, movement and expression.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
But researchers interested in these tissues typically study mechanical forces, chemical signaling, and gene expression — not currents and voltage, Rosenblatt said.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
As part of the search for the monogamous ideal, or an expression of anxiety about commitment, the practice is often time-limited.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
The objective is to create a healing dialogue through sound, movement and expression.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
But researchers interested in these tissues typically study mechanical forces, chemical signaling, and gene expression — not currents and voltage, Rosenblatt said.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
Noun
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After making his film debut with Happy Gilmore 2 last year, Hernández will next appear in voice roles in The Angry Birds Movie 3 and Shrek 5.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Shapiro also became a leading pro-Israel voice among Democrats and Jewish politicians amid the Israel-Hamas war.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lined up next to rookie left tackle Josh Simmons and veteran center Creed Humphrey, Suamataia took some lumps in the first two preseason games before settling in for a clean sheet in the third look against the Bears.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Casly Lamiit Matching Turtleneck and Skirt Set Go for an easy one-and-done look with this turtleneck sweater and skirt set.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
De Caché is a Spanish language term meaning high end or classy, general manager Oscar Escobar said.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Trump hasn’t used the act – which has only been invoked a handful of times in recent decades to suppress rioting – in either of his terms, but Walz expressed concern Wednesday that Minneapolis could be the tipping point if people protesting the shooting become violent.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the book was almost called The Boys Have Each Other because that was kind of like the buzz phrase around the family.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The simplicity of the meme allowed young Korean children to repeat the phrase in English.—
Rebekah Willett,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ditto for a higher dose formulation of Spinraza for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy.—
Ross Marchand,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Jan. 2026
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The funding will be used to expand the brand’s portfolio, strengthen its formulation and research-and-development capabilities, as well as build leadership and teams.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Even the simplest design details, like a red smile line hugging a tortoiseshell French tip, or a lipstick-red border outlining each nail, can make a bold statement.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
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Looking up at this switched-on electric relic, though, draws out a lopsided smile.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Knueppel beamed slightly when those words were relayed to him.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
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However, the application must only include a 500-word description of the idea and an informal video that is no longer than three minutes summarizing the idea.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s this Douglas Adams joke that in no language is there the idiom as pretty as an airport.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
As a substitute, the board selected local architect William Pereira, who, never fully at ease with a modernist idiom, hewed to the middlebrow tastes and conservative politics of California’s philanthropic parvenus.—
Michaëla de Lacaze Mohrmann,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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