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
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Recent Examples of expression
Most of the episode is technically a two-hander, but Giamatti is the obvious star of the show, conveying so much resentment, sorrow, and love in every expression.
—
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
What has directing your own music videos added to your creative expression as a musician?
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
The exhibition then becomes a deeply tuned analysis of the advances of the 1980s (the crucial period of graffiti’s embrace by the gallery system), the form’s shift from raw expression into commodity, and the stylistic ruptures that flowered.
—Max Lakin, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The chilling effect on expression and innovation would be especially pronounced for new market entrants.
—Daryl Lim, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expression
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
What has directing your own music videos added to your creative expression as a musician?
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
The exhibition then becomes a deeply tuned analysis of the advances of the 1980s (the crucial period of graffiti’s embrace by the gallery system), the form’s shift from raw expression into commodity, and the stylistic ruptures that flowered.
—Max Lakin, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The chilling effect on expression and innovation would be especially pronounced for new market entrants.
—Daryl Lim, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
Noun
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And the damage to his vocal cords seemed to freeze his voice in time.—
Jenni Carlson,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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That pretty much sums up Donald Trump for president. — Neil Rauch, Pikesville Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The festival will also feature an exclusive first look at Ken Burns‘ upcoming six-part, 12-hour docuseries The American Revolution, premiering Nov. 16 on PBS.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2025
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Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So what you're left with in terms of handicapping the race for pope is the endless guess-work by the Vatican experts at Rome's top media outlets.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Court documents reviewed by TIME found that Trump’s administration had a chance to challenge Ábrego García’s protection from deportation during his first term, but didn’t take it.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So much of the pro-wrestling job is not the wrestling part but cutting promos, the phrase used for presenting the audience with one’s storyline using words, not chops.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2025
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Watch out for similar phrases or wording in the reviews, or an overwhelming number of five-star reviews.—
Kara Fellows,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Better yet, the latest iterations do so quickly and gently, thanks to innovative ingredients and clever formulations.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
10 Apr. 2025
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Brands like Lululemon, Olaplex, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty and more have sought to clap-back at dupes by attempting to prove that their products formulations and efficacy never truly be replicated.—
Emma Sandler,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But markets are betting on more stimulus being rolled out soon in the face of the escalating China-U.S. trade war.—
Hannah Lang and Rae Wee,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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In the face of the Cavs’ potent three-guard attack of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Ty Jerome, Herro needed more reps on the ball to help Miami’s offense keep up.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His sentences stopped making sense, then his words.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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Some teachers have pushed back against the changes to reading instruction, which place a greater emphasis on phonics and discourage the use of context clues to guess at words.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Ultimately, Andrews and his actors find Chekhov by abandoning the paraphernalia of the writer’s universe and groping, in their own idiom, across a perilously empty stage, toward one another.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
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Which is fitting for a composer who, even when developing a homegrown idiom of his own, was criticized for sounding too European.—
Joshua Barone,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
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