Definition of paraphrasenext
as in translation
an instance of expressing something in different words your essays on human rights should have some original thought and not be simply a paraphrase of what's in the textbook

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paraphrase

2 of 2

verb

as in to translate
to express something (as a text or statement) in different words could you paraphrase your diagnosis of my medical condition, using simpler language?

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paraphrase
Noun
Like Irving, Poe had read Biddle’s paraphrase closely. — Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026 Some of the suspects try to minimize their actions with euphemisms or paraphrases; others do so with explanations that the prosecutors find utterly implausible. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
But to paraphrase Niels Bohr, during an earlier era when physicists were seeking the next big thing, this sort of theory strikes me as just radical enough — and just simple enough — to be right. — Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026 So to paraphrase Thanos, where did all this rambling and analysis about Infinity Vision bring us? — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paraphrase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paraphrase
Noun
  • At all six stores in New York this summer, one of the top-selling books—helped along by Hollywood—was Emily Wilson’s twelve-thousand-one-hundred-and-ten-line verse translation of the Odyssey.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • His theory didn’t reach far beyond Japan until the translation of his original essay, first in 1978, then in 2005, and again, with Mori’s approval, in 2012.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The group will work to translate community feedback into tangible progress for the district.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mining heritage and guochao National pride in China, expressed through the guochao movement, continues to boom in fashion, with local designers finding new ways to translate their own culture in their designs.
    — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But Fehlbaum warns writers and directors of the dangers of rushing to technology, especially AI, to take on the task of translating.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
  • With a title translating as The Fables Newspaper, the show took place in a forest filled with anthropomorphic animals where the main character, an owl named Meneer de Uil read headlines from a daily paper.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That’s how one top Netflix insider summarized another bloody Monday at the streamer, which saw Dan Lin ousted as the company’s head of film.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Related Stories InCheck reports summarize how a factory’s chemical inventory conforms to ZDHC’s Manufacturing Restricted Substances List, or MRSL.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Paraphrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paraphrase. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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