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 pessimists will see the phrasing as an insult. Judith Martin, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026 Interactive refinement tools suggest alternative phrasing, helping users improve clarity and consistency. Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
But Nelson plays odd tricks with rhythm—phrasing behind the beat while his guitar rushes forward. Alex Abramovich, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025 But the phrasing itself is fitting, come to think of it. Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for phrasing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phrasing
Noun
  • Sure, the Oscar-winning makeup helps transform the actor into Cheney, but the voice and petulance are all Bale, whose conjuring of this scoundrel ought to trigger PTSD for anyone who survived the Dubya years.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The telephone used a diaphragm, a coil and a receiver to convert sound waves into electrical signals and back into sound waves, enabling real-time voice conversations.
    Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Feldmann, a relatively recent Juilliard graduate, showed his Lieder-singing chops in the Viennese fare, his tone robust, his diction crisp.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Whereas Boyd was plain-spoken on purpose, Wheeler’s diction was always elevated and precise, with a hint of sarcasm.
    Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The force and frequency of Iranian missile launches will increase, and their range will become wider, state media cited the commander of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force as saying on Monday.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
  • No one’s comfortable saying that that pop music should be a bastion of the wealthy, but solutions to that are not free-market solutions.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Second, the swift realignment of NASA Goddard’s priorities with the President’s budget request for the 2026 fiscal year — a realignment that occurred when the budget was still only a request — reduced the availability of mission formulation and mission engineering personnel to work on AXIS.
    Big Think, Big Think, 11 Mar. 2026
  • This formulation increases the retinal stability and decreases irritation.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Still, for distributors and exhibitors in the United States, bringing foreign-language films to theaters sometimes seems like an act of philanthropy, while French sales agent grumble about the low sales prices.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Foreign language films, documentaries, cross pollination with their music artists, and more producing are all on the table.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.
    Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Erin Stewart, a Republican candidate for governor and former mayor of New Britain, recently filmed a video in front of the Gravel Pit facility, expressing her opposition to the project.
    Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Before closing arguments, the judge and attorneys will finalize the wording of instructions for the jury to follow during its deliberation, including whether there will be a reference to antifa in the jury charge.
    Emerson Clarridge Updated March 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The wording varies by state, with some with such laws requiring the silence period and others offering it as an option.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But when the lens shifts toward the interior, articulating the woman’s private monologues, the attitude is softer and more generous, even when her words seem steeped in a sense of ongoing dread.
    Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
  • If Beijing is articulating its asks, Washington should articulate its own, from clemency for Jimmy Lai to substantive and measurable cooperation on Ukraine.
    Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Phrasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrasing. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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