1
as in articulation
the clear and accurate pronunciation of words especially in public speaking Shakespearean actors with very good diction

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2
as in language
the way in which something is put into words the spare diction that is the hallmark of the poetry of Robert Frost

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of diction Scheer was smart to whittle down the novel’s winding sentences into short, sharp exclamations and curt instructions — and also to be faithful to Melville’s rendition of the captain’s irritable diction. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025 Viral TikTok shows the iPhone diction feature bug While Trump and the White House have been mum about the reported glitch, far-right commentators, including Infowars host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, have not. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 Mary Elizabeth Williams, a soprano with a strong lower extension, was mesmerizing in the title role, her superb diction giving emotional edge to a sometimes wooden text. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025 Jason Schwartzman, one of the most innovative actors of recent decades, is too easy to take for granted, because his acting remains inseparable from his utterly unique voice and diction, his air of inescapably sincere whimsy and thoughtful spontaneity. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diction
Noun
  • Speech therapy: Speech therapy can help people with mild autism who have challenges with language comprehension, articulation, or pragmatic skills.
    Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The hand scene was really a kind of articulation for me of this idea that sometimes our bodies know best.
    Anaja I. Smith, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Apart from any constitutional questions, there is also the problem that confessional language issued by the secretary of state in his official capacity distorts the message of Easter.
    Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Subtitles are easy to add to film, but, for the most part, they were used only when actors and audiences spoke different languages.
    David Owen, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • After Michelle Wolf's controversial monologue in 2018 received mixed reviews from critics, the WHCA chose historian Ron Chernow to present a speech the following year.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • In addition to agencies like Jacob’s Ladder, which provides speech and occupational services, there were attorneys and a representative from the Social Security office there to address questions.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results.
    Victoria Balara, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Settlement agreement wording does not bind the IRS, but helpful tax language in a settlement agreement can go a long way.
    Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • While newer formulations tend to avoid these ingredients, some still include actives that can be harsh, especially on sensitive areas like the underarms, where skin is thinner and prone to irritation or darkening.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Cacti, fungi or mushrooms, grape skins, corn, apples, mango waste and pineapple leaves, which make a textile called piñatex, have all been used to create vegan leather, and new formulations come out constantly.
    Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Music, literature and the visual arts are not optional luxuries but essential expressions of our humanity.
    William P. Yeakel, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Self Offense helps people identify subtle cues (e.g., saying ‘maybe’ or avoiding eye contact) and empowers them to treat those cues as legitimate expressions of self.
    William Jones, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Diction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diction. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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