phrasing 1 of 2

Definition of phrasingnext
1
as in voice
an act, process, or means of putting something into words research has shown that the phrasing of the question on certain hot-button issues greatly influences the response

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2
as in diction
the way in which something is put into words a particularly delicate and careful phrasing of the statement regarding the nature of the couple's relationship

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phrasing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of phrase

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 phrasing
Noun
The way poetry defamiliarizes language and seeks unique phrasings seems to scramble this software’s ability to sort text. James Folta, Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025 Rough phrasing can be powered through on an ATV of anthemic feeling — thus the career of Tim Rice — but Barne and Buchan are aiming to find depth in the small, and every lyrical imprecision destabilizes the whole. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2025
Verb
But the phrasing itself is fitting, come to think of it. Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025 Students often manage personal cues, entrances, and phrasing while working collectively to maintain cohesion. Maria Williams, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for phrasing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phrasing
Noun
  • After making his film debut with Happy Gilmore 2 last year, Hernández will next appear in voice roles in The Angry Birds Movie 3 and Shrek 5.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Shapiro also became a leading pro-Israel voice among Democrats and Jewish politicians amid the Israel-Hamas war.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • So what music to my ears were her astute assessment about the precision of Catullus’s diction across languages and the weirdly contemporary vocabulary itself.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
  • There is a sense of replay in the heightened and artificial diction with which Mateus has her cast bear witness, and this sense is enhanced by the painterly compositions that frame the speakers.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Reyes defended the compensation, saying it was negotiated in good faith.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other officials disputed the DHS claims, saying videos showed the woman driving away from agents, not aiming at them.
    Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This comes after bursting on to the scene about a decade ago, influencing beauty formulation and packaging everywhere.
    Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Inlyte’s work focused on cathode formulations, processing conditions, and operational protocols that allow iron to match the stability previously demonstrated only by nickel.
    Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Nationally, median early career wages range from $40,000 for a foreign language degree to $80,000 for a computer science degree, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Administration officials have cut that time roughly in half, partly by eliminating Spanish-language courses.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • However, one woman recently shared a personal experience when expressing genuine emotion clashed with workplace expectations.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Spoelstra was remarkably upbeat before the game, offering gratitude for the outpouring of support from the NBA community and expressing relief that nobody was injured in the inferno.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Even so, Israel was involved in drafting the resolution and is still trying to influence its wording, the official told CNN.
    Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The new wording would also give the council wiggle room in deciding the city manager's annual salary, contract term and amount of severance pay.
    Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Hazareesingh and Gibson emphasize the revolution’s role in articulating a radical idea of universal rights and cultivating new forms of democratic participation.
    Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Its new security strategy emphasizes the need for greater investment in critical mineral supply chains, but without articulating a vision for how those minerals should be used.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Phrasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrasing. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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