as in idioms
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 words
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
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 phrases
Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dynamic contrasts were boldly drawn, but phrases and passages were also beautifully tapered, up and down, when they were meant to.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
The first text contains different kinds of phrases and clauses, while the second text repeats the same clause structure four times.
—Laura Aull, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Even as Southern cooking evolves, these phrases continue to pop up—in social media comments, kitchens, and conversations—sometimes unexpectedly, but always in a way that brings people together.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Since 2018, when the sports-betting ban was overturned, internet searches for phrases like Am I addicted to gambling?
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Some ignited fireworks and others spoke from a bullhorn or spray-painted anti-ICE phrases on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Keep reading to learn nine things not to talk about at the dinner table, plus reasons why these phrases can have negative consequences for your child.
—Sally Kuzemchak, Parents, 7 Mar. 2026
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
In essence, the Iowa and West Virginia sports cases ask the court to rule whether a transgender girl – a person assigned male at birth who has transitioned to align with their identity as a girl or woman, as the AP Stylebook phrases it – is a girl or a boy.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Extract phrases from calls, build frameworks from notes, convert DMs to posts.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Ethan began learning to express himself through a combination of short spoken phrases and pointing to icons on a tablet.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dynamic contrasts were boldly drawn, but phrases and passages were also beautifully tapered, up and down, when they were meant to.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
The first text contains different kinds of phrases and clauses, while the second text repeats the same clause structure four times.
—Laura Aull, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Even as Southern cooking evolves, these phrases continue to pop up—in social media comments, kitchens, and conversations—sometimes unexpectedly, but always in a way that brings people together.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Since 2018, when the sports-betting ban was overturned, internet searches for phrases like Am I addicted to gambling?
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Some ignited fireworks and others spoke from a bullhorn or spray-painted anti-ICE phrases on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Keep reading to learn nine things not to talk about at the dinner table, plus reasons why these phrases can have negative consequences for your child.
—Sally Kuzemchak, Parents, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
To this day, people come up to him and quote phrases his character used to utter.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
In essence, the Iowa and West Virginia sports cases ask the court to rule whether a transgender girl – a person assigned male at birth who has transitioned to align with their identity as a girl or woman, as the AP Stylebook phrases it – is a girl or a boy.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Extract phrases from calls, build frameworks from notes, convert DMs to posts.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phrases
Noun
-
Those books introduced me to a vision of American teenage life and taught me the rhythms and idioms of American English, nuances that would later replace my Britishisms and shape my career as a journalist.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Like fellow North Carolinians Wednesday and MJ Lenderman—local stars descended from the likes of Lucinda Williams and Drive-By Truckers—Dowdy carves complex new visions into the idioms of his upbringing.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That’s because fast running will push your fitness up a notch in a way slow running simply won’t, Hamilton says.—
Jenny McCoy,
SELF,
20 Mar. 2026
-
One thing Sandlin says SMU tries to ascertain about a player is their play character.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The approach suits the perspective bandleader Kylie Gaspard expresses across the EP, of someone lost in their head and trying to make sense of the world around them.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
-
When the brain leaves survival mode Anxiety is often the first way the body expresses overload.—
Deldhy Nicolás Moya Sánchez,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phrases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrases. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
