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
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Recent Examples of phrases
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Here’s 5 boundary-setting phrases high performers use at work.
—Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Few phrases shut down a conversation faster.
—John Bowe, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
More and more readers can see that mainstream outlets manufacture consent through the use of particular words, phrases, and tones—and the exclusion of vital information, as is shown by their failure to report Jeffrey Epstein’s role as a global power broker with close links to Israeli intelligence.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Eventually, Beckner learned that Love was simply embracing one of Beckner’s signature phrases.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The program notes from the festival avoid phrases like school shooting or gun violence.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The letters were filled with spelling and grammar mistakes, and also with bizarre phrases, which, to those who knew Koren well, instantly identified him as the author.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The new song features Minnelli speaking various phrases over a techno beat.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 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
Videos on Chinese social media show people adorning their homes with red posters carrying well-wishing phrases, known as fai chun or chunlian, in an annual festive ritual.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Here’s 5 boundary-setting phrases high performers use at work.
—Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Few phrases shut down a conversation faster.
—John Bowe, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
More and more readers can see that mainstream outlets manufacture consent through the use of particular words, phrases, and tones—and the exclusion of vital information, as is shown by their failure to report Jeffrey Epstein’s role as a global power broker with close links to Israeli intelligence.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Eventually, Beckner learned that Love was simply embracing one of Beckner’s signature phrases.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The program notes from the festival avoid phrases like school shooting or gun violence.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The letters were filled with spelling and grammar mistakes, and also with bizarre phrases, which, to those who knew Koren well, instantly identified him as the author.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The new song features Minnelli speaking various phrases over a techno beat.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 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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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
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For decades, the Grisons had printed textbooks in five Romansh idioms—a baroque solution that invited a more rational one.—
Simon Akam,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The Gates Foundation’s influence has never been greater, its CEO says, but for the wrong reason.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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The company says the architecture supports predictable handling during complex flight phases.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Leferi Chairman Choi In-seok expresses his condolences in his own statement following the late influencer's death.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
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No other word expresses so much hatred and bigotry.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phrases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrases. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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