as in mode
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words
in the poet's somewhat affected locution, word order is often reversed and so we have "the sea serene"
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Recent Examples of locution
Confucius says—an old-fashioned locution, perhaps, but appropriate here—never to take interest in feats of strength.
—
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
That archly strangled locution, the ceaseless scorn: the vendor’s voice nags at the former Dean Street boy.
—Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023
That mysterious locution and the lack of additional details raised the possibility that something more than the sniffles might be ailing the Boss.
—Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
In diplomatic memorandums, officials avoided the term military base; the preferred locution was joint communications facility.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
With its mess of divergent voices, picture-poems, and eccentric locutions, the result is baffling, beautiful, and always fascinatingly Notley.
—David Wallace, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
President Lyndon Baines Johnson was a retro Texan by birth and locution.
—Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Consider common appeals to allyship and altruism; such locutions convey a sort of optional quality, a moralistic tone, and unreliable trendiness.
—Astra Taylor, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2019
On this night, Dylan made every word count, and sang with a blues master’s locution.
—Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, 31 Oct. 2019
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
That archly strangled locution, the ceaseless scorn: the vendor’s voice nags at the former Dean Street boy.
—Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023
That mysterious locution and the lack of additional details raised the possibility that something more than the sniffles might be ailing the Boss.
—Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
In diplomatic memorandums, officials avoided the term military base; the preferred locution was joint communications facility.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
With its mess of divergent voices, picture-poems, and eccentric locutions, the result is baffling, beautiful, and always fascinatingly Notley.
—David Wallace, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
President Lyndon Baines Johnson was a retro Texan by birth and locution.
—Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Consider common appeals to allyship and altruism; such locutions convey a sort of optional quality, a moralistic tone, and unreliable trendiness.
—Astra Taylor, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2019
On this night, Dylan made every word count, and sang with a blues master’s locution.
—Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, 31 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for locution
Noun
-
Enjoy the game in single-player or online multiplayer modes.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Powered by Adelaide, Forbes AI Too many founders get stuck in endless preparation mode.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Fast forward to 2025, and Leicester away has once again witnessed a big moment, though not quite in the same manner as 2019.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Even, or especially, at its most desperately convoluted, the film throws off a giddy sense of freedom, of the sheer range of options available to Lee, Angela, Chris, and Min; their freedom to lie, in all manner of creative ways, far outstrips that of the earlier film’s characters.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
His play style requires highly technical players, a standard that is not widely characteristic of MLS.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
More Pro Wrestling: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin Confirmed For WrestleMania: Report Mysterio would quickly become one of the most popular baby faces in the company, partially due to his incredible in-ring style.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Over time, this can help maintain or slightly improve muscle tone and lean muscle mass.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
23 Apr. 2025
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Hints, Clues, Answers For Wednesday, April 23 New Jersey Wildfire Forces Evacuation Of 3,000 Residents—Leaves 25,000 Homes Without Power DAZN Boxing posted the video: The timing and tone of the comments from Eubank Sr. couldn’t have been more direct.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the same vein was his trip to Lesbos, together with the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Archbishop of Athens, as well as the celebration of a Mass on the border between Mexico and the United States during his journey to Mexico.—
ABC NEWS,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2025
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Like an excavator pushing aside topsoil for the vein of minerals underneath, these cuts are violent and indiscriminate, devastating individual livelihoods and scarring communities.—
Sarah Blomeley,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Locution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locution. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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