as in manner
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words
in the poet's somewhat affected locution, word order is often reversed and so we have "the sea serene"
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Recent Examples of locution
Providence doesn’t give you a Latin teacher for a mother without consequence: Samy declaimed classical locutions with scandalous ease.
—
Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Confucius says—an old-fashioned locution, perhaps, but appropriate here—never to take interest in feats of strength.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
That archly strangled locution, the ceaseless scorn: the vendor’s voice nags at the former Dean Street boy.
—Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023
That mysterious locution and the lack of additional details raised the possibility that something more than the sniffles might be ailing the Boss.
—Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
In diplomatic memorandums, officials avoided the term military base; the preferred locution was joint communications facility.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
President Lyndon Baines Johnson was a retro Texan by birth and locution.
—Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Consider common appeals to allyship and altruism; such locutions convey a sort of optional quality, a moralistic tone, and unreliable trendiness.
—Astra Taylor, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2019
Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Confucius says—an old-fashioned locution, perhaps, but appropriate here—never to take interest in feats of strength.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
That archly strangled locution, the ceaseless scorn: the vendor’s voice nags at the former Dean Street boy.
—Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023
That mysterious locution and the lack of additional details raised the possibility that something more than the sniffles might be ailing the Boss.
—Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
In diplomatic memorandums, officials avoided the term military base; the preferred locution was joint communications facility.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
President Lyndon Baines Johnson was a retro Texan by birth and locution.
—Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Consider common appeals to allyship and altruism; such locutions convey a sort of optional quality, a moralistic tone, and unreliable trendiness.
—Astra Taylor, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for locution
Noun
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The fancy men are very rude to Tristan, which is terrible manners and therefore very UN-fancy, but Charlotte likes him.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
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The manner of death was ruled homicide, and the cause of death was a gunshot wound.—
Sarah Dahlberg,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The pair lives on an isolated island in a converted prison, rendered in full coastal gothic mode at Steppenwolf by the set designer Collette Pollard, who makes fine use of the theater’s soaring vertical height.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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Terrain mode select is a specialized traction control feature available on AWD models, including the X-Line and X-Pro trims.—
Tony Leopardo,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The risk remained even after researchers accounted for how closely people followed a healthy Mediterranean-style diet.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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The co-founder of Airbnb, Gebbia ran through the new website with Oz, a former television show host, during the informercial-style event.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But by the time of Pretti’s killing – and with public anger rising – the tone of state officials hardened, promising a serious inquiry, whatever the challenges.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The rooms The 87 rooms are designed by Cristina Matos, who chose subtle tones—such as beiges, whites, and greens—with notes of color in the wallpaper and carpets, all of which allude to fauna and flora, and artistic ceilings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Locution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locution. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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