1
as in voice
an act, process, or means of putting something into words
the poem is his expression of his grief upon the loss of his beloved wife
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2
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling
we could tell by the fans' expressions that the Chicago Cubs had lost again
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3
as in term
a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field
the expression "John Doe" is used in legal proceedings to refer to a person whose actual name is either unknown or being withheld from the public
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4
as in phrase
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
the popular expression "raining cats and dogs" is meaningless in other languages
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of expression
These activities are protected by the First Amendment, which does not impose age limits on the right to free expression.
—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
Returning now to one of the defining settings of his life and career, Hilfiger looks to transform The Plaza into the backdrop for a new expression of classic American cool.
—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
That had the full range of Minnesotan expression written all over it.
—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
2 July 2026
Strong privacy laws limit public expression, particularly around a crime story.
—
William Finnegan,
New Yorker,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
Returning now to one of the defining settings of his life and career, Hilfiger looks to transform The Plaza into the backdrop for a new expression of classic American cool.
—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
That had the full range of Minnesotan expression written all over it.
—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
2 July 2026
Strong privacy laws limit public expression, particularly around a crime story.
—
William Finnegan,
New Yorker,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
Noun
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The production made use of Malaysia’s post-production infrastructure and incorporated creative voices from across South and Southeast Asia.
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This year’s milestone edition furthers that legacy by pairing foundational film voices with the next generation of artistic troublemakers.
Noun
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To mimic Streep's look, pair the jeans with a striped button-up top.
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For a coordinated look, there’s also a matching short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt—each available for under $50.
Noun
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Both parties have accused each other of violating the terms – which envision the eventual withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, the full disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international force and a new Palestinian governing body.
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Personal terms had not been expected to be an issue for Manchester United, but Tottenham’s salary offer was also viewed as beyond what the Old Trafford hierarchy were willing to commit to.
Noun
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His Raising Cane’s work, titled Cane’s Anthem, continues the Pop-lite aesthetic, utilizing phrases and images that appear to be culled from the mass media.
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Anyway, this phrase survived my query letter, made it into my agent’s submission letter to editors, and ended up in my editor’s copy on the back of the book.
Noun
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In fact, the material represents a tenfold improvement in carbon performance compared to the company’s first-generation formulation.
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Women expect better design, better formulations, and better experiences everywhere else in their lives.
Noun
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Mickey Guyton flashes a smile at the SiriusXM Studios on June 29 in New York City.
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Asked Monday what the best part about being back has been so far, a big smile crept across Watkins’ face.
Noun
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When word spread that Swift attended Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley's 2023 wedding on the New Jersey shore, hundreds of fans and photographers descended on the quiet beach community.
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Review a bill, then send a polite message that clarifies terms, because simple words protect value and invite respectful responses.
Noun
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On the one hand, the translation serves as a source for the idioms of nineteenth-century English; on the other, as evidence of the ideas that the translator held about a Colombian woman writer.
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Out of love for different sound systems, different writing systems, different grammars, different sets of concepts, different idioms, different ways of seeing the world.
Cite this Entry
“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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