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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
To paraphrase noted philosopher Buddy The Elf: Lauren … here?
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2025
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
The result — from the tunnels carved out by tomb robbers to the trains that run day and night — is a cinematic gift for the senses and specifically, to paraphrase one of the more philosophical characters, about our understanding of time’s ability to both preserve and destroy.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paraphrase
Noun
So here’s a paraphrase that seems apt today: Harvard delenda est.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
To paraphrase noted philosopher Buddy The Elf: Lauren … here?
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
Both were, to paraphrase nominee and Sinners star Delroy Lindo, a living, breathing world of their own in an often bleak world.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
The result — from the tunnels carved out by tomb robbers to the trains that run day and night — is a cinematic gift for the senses and specifically, to paraphrase one of the more philosophical characters, about our understanding of time’s ability to both preserve and destroy.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paraphrase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paraphrase
Noun
-
The new hub will host programs year round, and abet the educational mission via hands-on translation workshops.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The movies weren’t subtitled, and sometimes a screening included a live narrator doing simultaneous translation into Romanian.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kahalzadeh calculated if only 30% of the 10 million to 12 million jobs at risk are actually lost, that still translates to approximately 3 million to 4 million jobs—representing a 15% labor market contraction and the largest decline in Iran’s modern history.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The recent spike in voter interest for Becerra, 68, has also translated to a surge in financial support from small donors, said Bustamante.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Valeria was able to do any translating, and with help from furniture donated by neighbors the Haskells converted their three-bedroom house into a five-bedroom house to accommodate the Zarutskas along with themselves, Valeria’s adult daughter, and three dogs.—
Julia Coin
April 14,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Translation tools, meeting summaries and captions have the ability to smooth over gaps in fluency and assist non-native speakers in writing emails, translating, and functioning more confidently in English-first settings.—
Aslesha Mehta,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, Apple launched Apple Intelligence, which includes image generators, text rewriters, the ability to summarize push notifications and an integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
That workflow provides doctors with more accurate answers that summarize and link to important papers and guidelines.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paraphrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paraphrase. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
