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
In a place whose people are forced to endure the same struggles as their parents (to paraphrase one of this film’s most aching laments), time will always be a flat circle. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026 There is an old adage (paraphrased) that the only constant in life is change. Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for paraphrase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paraphrase
Noun
  • Transit has remained committed to publishing works in translation, and has had genuine success.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But Duran didn’t need a translation for what had happened a few moments earlier.
    Latif Love, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Industry leaders agree that AI capabilities have yet to fully translate to the frontline.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • There are other aspects of Savinho’s profile that may translate better to a more vertical De Zerbi side compared to Guardiola’s City.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Writing and translating had become my only job.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Verb
  • Oprah Winfrey asked Harry to summarize his reasons for leaving Britain in a 2021 interview that was broadcast around the world.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Efficiency Versus Comprehension Most of today's AI solutions for selling on sites like Amazon improve efficiency—write faster, optimize faster, summarize faster and push existing workflows a little further.
    David Greenblatt, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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