as in idiom
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 to say
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 phrase
Mark Chiusano, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
The world no longer presents itself in coherent phrases.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
John Updike, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Slang moves fast, and already there are terms from earlier this year that are phrasing out of popularity.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for phrase
Noun
In our interview, Mamdani frames the shift as the consequence of listening to New Yorkers, including Jewish leaders, as well as a rabbi who said the phrase evoked memories of bus bombings in Haifa.
—Mark Chiusano, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
The world no longer presents itself in coherent phrases.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
But this is an inane question, inanely phrased, because your letters so admirably inform me of your version of tricks.
—John Updike, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Slang moves fast, and already there are terms from earlier this year that are phrasing out of popularity.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for phrase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phrase
Noun
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He’s been talking about replacing it with a permanent ballroom for a long time, in his usual Dictator Chic idiom.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
1 Aug. 2025
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This could be in Elsbeth’s usual light and fizzy idiom or perhaps a brief foray into Scandi-noir.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Wei, who had received Naval counterintelligence and insider threat training just days earlier, strongly suspected that his new social media acquaintance was a Chinese spy, prosecutors said.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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Last year, acting and literary arts programs paused receiving new applications, Elmendorf said.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The good news is that depending on how your prompts are worded, there is a solid chance that GPT-5 will select one of the GPT-5 submodels that will do a bang-up job of answering your prompt.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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This depiction didn’t limit the exemption to MLB but instead, at least as worded, extends throughout professional baseball.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 July 2025
Verb
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Several parents expressed anger at the Kyrene School District Governing Board meeting on Aug. 5 over the handling of air quality issues stemming from a school roof construction project.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Each consideration was dressed through Morticia’s viewpoint as if she were given a blank canvas to express her own look.—
Daron James,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phrase. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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