as in numbness
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness
a man of remarkable phlegm, never showing enthusiasm nor displeasure
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phlegm
Psychological treatment for anxiety and increased masking in public are in many cases sufficient to treat this unfortunate buildup of phlegm and embarrassment.
—
Alexis Wilkinson, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Those sacs of air fill with fluid or pus, causing a cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills and trouble breathing, according to the clinic.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The second is having either 10 or more pack years of smoking, or symptoms of cough, phlegm and trouble breathing.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease is made via chest X-ray, urine test and lab analysis of a phlegm sample.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phlegm
Alexis Wilkinson, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Those sacs of air fill with fluid or pus, causing a cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills and trouble breathing, according to the clinic.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The second is having either 10 or more pack years of smoking, or symptoms of cough, phlegm and trouble breathing.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease is made via chest X-ray, urine test and lab analysis of a phlegm sample.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phlegm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phlegm
Noun
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Driggers underwent 28 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments and still has numbness in his feet and hands.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Claudication that doesn’t improve, wounds that won’t heal, sudden severe swelling and new numbness all warrant a clinician visit.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Interstellar space is unforgivingly vast, but the emptiness has some advantages.—
Kai James,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
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The Tuesday parking shortage and the Monday emptiness are not anomalies to correct.—
Chase Garbarino,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The record has always been looked at as the black sheep of the two albums, the more experimental foray that embraced the coldness of synths on a stylistic side quest.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
26 May 2026
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When Charles was set to come face to face with one of the brightest, youngest faces of American politics, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, he was met with only a coldness and reminder of the crimes of British imperialism.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After so much apathy during the past season, his return carries appeal — but supporters are by no means entirely behind his return.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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But the performance on the field wasn’t the biggest cause for concern that night for the Gunners – the most damning indictment was the apathy surrounding the club.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phlegm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phlegm. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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