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
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Recent Examples of phrases
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
Fans have made posts using the game’s font to write comical phrases.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
These phrases often signal values rather than verifiable environmental outcomes.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
These phrases sound meaningful.
—Miami Herald, 5 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
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
Fans have made posts using the game’s font to write comical phrases.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
These phrases often signal values rather than verifiable environmental outcomes.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
These phrases sound meaningful.
—Miami Herald, 5 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
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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
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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
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The plaintiff, identified as KGM in documents or Kaley, as her lawyers have called her during the trial, says her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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The suit, filed in Sacramento federal court, argues California’s requirement that all new vehicles sold in the state be zero-emission by 2035 improperly regulates fuel economy — an area the administration says falls under the authority of the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.—
Madison Smalstig,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This is the kind of personal information that Cooper himself expresses ambivalence about sharing throughout his book.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
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Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phrases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrases. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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