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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in saying
to convey in appropriate or telling terms
he had trouble thinking of how to phrase his question for the visiting dignitary
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phrasing
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
This imbalance hinders some of the phrasing's sweetness in the vocal harmony.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
But Nelson plays odd tricks with rhythm—phrasing behind the beat while his guitar rushes forward.
—Alex Abramovich, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phrasing
Noun
That phrasing launched a barrage of criticism.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
This imbalance hinders some of the phrasing's sweetness in the vocal harmony.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
Verb
After all, Snow Falling on Cedars is constituted of dense and mellifluous prose, whereas Evelyn in Transit—to borrow phrasing from its publisher’s marketing language—is a crystalline novel written in a spare, precise style.
—Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
But Nelson plays odd tricks with rhythm—phrasing behind the beat while his guitar rushes forward.
—Alex Abramovich, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phrasing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phrasing
Noun
-
Jazz values each member’s unique voice.—
Steven D. Reske,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Her voice sounded cold and disappointed.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
This isn’t to suggest that Young needs to pick up where Hunt has left off, in terms of salty diction.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
But Auschwitz had also left its mark on his diction—a sort of verbal tattoo.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
For more than half a century, Robert Watson, one of the world’s most illustrious concierges, has been saying yes to hotel guests.—
Andrea Sachs,
Washington Post,
26 May 2026
-
So academics on the left and newspapers and so on, essentially saying that the American Revolution was all about slavery and that Britain was allowing the slaves to be freed, and all of this, so hooray for Britain, which was a very improbable development.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Wellness culture flooded the market with powders, protocols and biohacking promises, yet many buyers still struggle to distinguish rigorous formulation from expensive branding.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Mascara tends to be more expensive depending on the unique formulation, ingredients and manufacturing process.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
The catalog runs to more than 400 Chinese-language, 200 English-language and 50 Korean titles spanning variety, reality and comedy.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 May 2026
-
His novels have been translated into twenty different languages.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Add ingredients, stir briefly to integrate them together and garnish with a large grapefruit peel, expressing the oils over the top of the drink before adding the peel to the glass.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
23 May 2026
-
According to the Russian human rights organization OVD-Info, over 20,000 Russian citizens have been detained since 2022 for expressing antiwar opinions, including online.—
Benjamin Nathans,
The New York Review of Books,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
The campaign said there weren’t any previous questions that preceded that question that could influence how people answered, other than the wording of that particular question.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
-
The logic still applies even if the wording needs an update.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Your leadership plays a crucial role in articulating a clear vision that respects the past while committing to a different future.—
Simon Corbett,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Moore did a good job on Maher’s show of articulating the problems with closed primaries.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phrasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrasing. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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