as in idiom
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
kids drawing literal representations of the phrase "to rain cats and dogs"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to say
to convey in appropriate or telling terms
he had trouble thinking of how to phrase his question for the visiting dignitary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phrase
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Described as a surprising and rare find, the scabbard reversed a phrase commonly used in archaeology.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Even his February 18 post is phrased as a personal opinion, as if the decision belonged exclusively to Britain.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for phrase
Noun
The three phrases below aren’t dramatic declarations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Described as a surprising and rare find, the scabbard reversed a phrase commonly used in archaeology.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
Verb
Nothing is inherently natural about self-interest, deregulation, or capital accumulation, even if Smith phrased it as such.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Even his February 18 post is phrased as a personal opinion, as if the decision belonged exclusively to Britain.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for phrase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phrase
Noun
-
And why in the world would anyone composing after the Second World War reëmbrace the long-irrelevant late-Romantic idiom of Puccini and Strauss, with its lush harmonies, rich orchestration, and powerful melodies?—
Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
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These days, Andersen has the idioms flying in Carolina’s locker room.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The pair, who were at Molineux when Wolverhampton Wanderers returned to the Premier League in August 2018, were back almost eight years later, as the stadium said farewell to the top flight.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
In neighboring Uganda, officials said laboratory results confirmed two cases in the capital of Kampala − including one death − among people traveling from Congo with no apparent link to each other.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Experiments like Strachey’s were part of an explosion of postwar research on the relationship between mathematics and language, expressions of a broader fascination with the automation of knowledge, which crossed disciplines and suffused the culture.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
That presentiment lies behind the many present expressions of apocalypse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Portage resident Bruno Mendez complained Tuesday not about what a code violation cited him for but the way it was worded.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Beijing’s statement after the meeting with the Iranian Foreign Ministry was carefully worded to not blame Iran for the crisis while also calling for greater efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.—
Selina Wang,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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In its search to find the language to express the truths of the moment, Rehearsals for a Revolution is not afraid to question its own gestures — to doubt itself and to be vulnerable.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
-
While talking to James Haskell and Alex Payne, his co-hosts on his podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, Tindall discussed his 2011 wedding to Zara Phillips, and expressed his surprise that rugby star James Haskell had not made a fool out of himself then.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrase. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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