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
Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
The three phrases below aren’t dramatic declarations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
My Italian vocabulary has expanded to hundreds of words and some key phrases.
—Bob Brody, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
The restaurant is also impeccably clean, with pastel colors and playful illustrations and Chinese phrases on the walls.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
Avoid common words and phrases Simple words or predictable combinations are easy for attackers to guess.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Advertisement The move that lands hardest, Freeman adds, is to repeat one of her phrases back to her in the middle of a normal conversation.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 7 May 2026
In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said tougher action is needed against people chanting certain phrases at pro-Palestinian protests, as concerns grew over the safety of British Jews after the stabbings of two Jewish men in London.
—David Crary, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Vegas has swiftly made a reputation for having the best entertainment experience, in-arena atmosphere and other alliterative buzz phrases.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 May 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
Wright’s approach to the saxophone is often cubist in nature, reducing the music to isolated phrases and sounds and then battering them from every conceivable angle.
—Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
The three phrases below aren’t dramatic declarations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
My Italian vocabulary has expanded to hundreds of words and some key phrases.
—Bob Brody, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
The restaurant is also impeccably clean, with pastel colors and playful illustrations and Chinese phrases on the walls.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
Avoid common words and phrases Simple words or predictable combinations are easy for attackers to guess.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Advertisement The move that lands hardest, Freeman adds, is to repeat one of her phrases back to her in the middle of a normal conversation.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 7 May 2026
In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said tougher action is needed against people chanting certain phrases at pro-Palestinian protests, as concerns grew over the safety of British Jews after the stabbings of two Jewish men in London.
—David Crary, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Vegas has swiftly made a reputation for having the best entertainment experience, in-arena atmosphere and other alliterative buzz phrases.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 May 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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If the assignment is to translate something from a foreign language, there are plenty of tools and resources that can do it for you, including by recognizing and figuratively translating idioms.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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While everyone can be affected by smoke or ozone, the MPCA says those at higher risk of health complications include outdoor workers, older adults, children, those who are pregnant, and those who have heart or lung conditions.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
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The Administration for Children and Families says state child support agencies submit qualifying cases, and federal officials forward those records to the State Department.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Victoria Frenner, who is a therapist, expresses skepticism about the book’s punchy tone.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
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Bryl has built a beauty career over the past four decades based on accuracy, discretion, and the belief that beauty, at its best, expresses presence rather than perfection.—
Jordan French,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phrases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrases. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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