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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Yet something about his manner seems to put people at ease.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Coward was a steak-and-kidney pie kind of fellow, and the characters in his plays obsessed over their manners, their tableware and their tea.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Cardinals are in rebuild mode and figure to fall off in due time.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
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This marvelous oven has an eight-in-one function with multiple cooking modes to slow cook, braise, bake, and make brown rice, white rice, pasta, and oats.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Invictus Games are a Paralympic-style competition for wounded and recovering service members and veterans from around the world.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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Your graceful style helps people open up, while clear boundaries stop you from overgiving to keep the peace.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Romvari herself grew up on an island in British Columbia, and the natural landscape plays a significant role in her movie’s textures and tones.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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The younger journalist brings a softer tone to his reports.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Locution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locution. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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