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
Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Although the wording included polite phrases, the anonymity left no room for conversation or compromise.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Which Southern phrases are most commonly misused, misunderstood, or generally in need of some clarification?
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
Last year was filled with memorable trends, memes and phrases, some of which were built to last and others that may be better off forgotten.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
During the proceedings the defense alleged Black singer Esther Lee Jones used similar phrases first.
—Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
It is flanked on all sides by footlong rulers (emblazoned, like the yardsticks, with an assortment of penitent phrases including YES, SISTER and NO, SISTER) marking the hours.
—Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Book the plane tickets, download Duolingo to start practicing your key phrases, and don’t forget to take stock of your luggage situation early.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
The practice of loving-kindness often involves quietly reciting to oneself several traditional phrases designed to evoke metta, and visualizing the beings who will receive that loving-kindness.
—Jeremy David Engels, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
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
Without your seed phrases, that money is gone.
—Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Although the wording included polite phrases, the anonymity left no room for conversation or compromise.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Which Southern phrases are most commonly misused, misunderstood, or generally in need of some clarification?
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
Last year was filled with memorable trends, memes and phrases, some of which were built to last and others that may be better off forgotten.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
During the proceedings the defense alleged Black singer Esther Lee Jones used similar phrases first.
—Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
It is flanked on all sides by footlong rulers (emblazoned, like the yardsticks, with an assortment of penitent phrases including YES, SISTER and NO, SISTER) marking the hours.
—Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Book the plane tickets, download Duolingo to start practicing your key phrases, and don’t forget to take stock of your luggage situation early.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
The practice of loving-kindness often involves quietly reciting to oneself several traditional phrases designed to evoke metta, and visualizing the beings who will receive that loving-kindness.
—Jeremy David Engels, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
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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Music unites the interconnecting stories in this saga and expands its passions, with a sumptuous score by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens that taps into a wide range of American styles, idioms and amalgams, even as the second act turns more dissonant.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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The history of labor struggle, infused with religious idioms, is a source of identity and values evident in everything from union meetings in churches to prayers on picket lines.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Boals Moeller says the recent AI breakthrough is no different.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
People with a nonfunctioning ANGPTL3 gene — which Natarajan says applies to about 1 in 250 people in the US — have lifelong levels of low LDL cholesterol and triglycerides without any apparent negative consequences.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As advocates have pointed out, these qualifiers are vague enough that they could be wielded against anyone who expresses their sexuality or defies traditional gender roles.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
7 Nov. 2025
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Miss Universe President expresses 'Great indignation' Rocha began his statement by expressing solidarity with the 122 delegates before criticizing Nawat's actions.—
Paula Soria,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phrases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrases. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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