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
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
With its mess of divergent voices, picture-poems, and eccentric locutions, the result is baffling, beautiful, and always fascinatingly Notley.
—David Wallace, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
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
On this night, Dylan made every word count, and sang with a blues master’s locution.
—Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, 31 Oct. 2019
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
With its mess of divergent voices, picture-poems, and eccentric locutions, the result is baffling, beautiful, and always fascinatingly Notley.
—David Wallace, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
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
On this night, Dylan made every word count, and sang with a blues master’s locution.
—Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, 31 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for locution
Noun
-
Because of this, specialty coffee is also a game of logistics, getting coffees out of country in a timely manner in order to preserve the delicate sweetness and complexity that producers had worked so hard to create.—
Christopher Marquis,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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The bill would also require them to display legible identification, including their agency name or acronym and name or badge number in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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With four smart modes (cool, gentle, fast, and style) and magnetic attachments like a diffuser and concentrator, the Zuvi puts you in control.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 July 2025
-
Under stress, however, your body naturally shifts into the nervous system’s sympathetic or fight-or-flight mode, driving faster, shallower breaths from the upper chest.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Sienna Miller, being something of an architect of modern boho style, is presumably no different.—
Kerry McDermott,
Vogue,
13 July 2025
-
The real fireworks started with Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland’s victory over The Young Bucks, which delivered AEW’s signature style: Flips, tricks, no-sells, piledrivers, destroyers, countless kickouts of finishing moves, and a ridiculously impressive fast pace.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Blanchett wore a silk suit from the Italian brand, featuring tones of blue and white in a Prince of Wales check print.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
-
First, the Pigment Processor Daily Brightening Serum ($115) targets dark spots and uneven skin tone with ingredients like kojic acid, known for its fast-acting brightening properties, but noticeable does make skin more sensitive to the sun.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Locution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locution. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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