as in conversation
talking or a talk between two or more people
Thomas Jefferson is said to have been able to participate in knowledgeable discourse on a breathtaking array of subjects
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1
as in to lecture
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
the guest lecturer discoursed at some length on the long-term results of the war
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2
as in to speak
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech
grandly discoursed as though he were an expert on every subject
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of discourse
Greg Wehner, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024
Americans’ zeal for the death of an insurance executive demonstrates both the coarsening of public discourse and the degree of rage many Americans feel over the deficiencies of the U.S. health-care system.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024
With the pressure mounting, Live Nation appeared to respond to the merch cuts discourse with On the Road Again, a new program that sounded too good to be true.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 1 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for discourse 
Noun
Bashar also freed political prisoners and allowed more open discourse.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024
Americans’ zeal for the death of an insurance executive demonstrates both the coarsening of public discourse and the degree of rage many Americans feel over the deficiencies of the U.S. health-care system.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
Where the Duchess of Newcastle debated the scholars of the Royal Society, here the Empress corrects her mixed figures, a scenario as comic as Circe discoursing with her pigs.
—Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024
With the pressure mounting, Live Nation appeared to respond to the merch cuts discourse with On the Road Again, a new program that sounded too good to be true.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 1 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for discourse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourse
Noun
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The conversation changes if No. 17 Clemson were to beat No. 8 SMU in the ACC title game.The Athletic College Football, The Athletic, 8 Dec. 2024
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And now, three years later, the term metaverse has largely disappeared from the public conversation, with Google Trends noting a sharp fall in searches for the term after 2022.Devan Burris, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
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We’re either lectured on the history of our own struggle, or appealed to with dire fearmongering and empty promises while our cries fall on deaf ears.Derrick Johnson, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
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An increasingly jealous Seth Rollins lectured Sami Zayn about teaming with Roman Reigns after both of them worked so hard to end the Bloodline.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Joined by Governor Josh Shapiro, Frye spoke at a press conference where the arrest was announced.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Tisdale spoke with her hair colorist, who encouraged her to get in touch with a dermatologist who could provide more clarity about what was going on.Brian Mastroianni, Health, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The two teams are in discussions on how to modify the stadium to give it a more homey feel for the Rays, but no final decisions have been made.Chris Kirschner, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
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Additionally, a loss head-to-head against Alabama put the Crimson Tide over them in the discussion despite a good season.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Petra came to talk to Gabriel late in the evening, when she was possessed by fears for her parents.Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
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When talking with a reporter, Torbenson flipped through Givens’ case to get the basics.John Diedrich, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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When the visitors dared to poke their heads behind the curtain, they were harangued.John Pomfret, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2013
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Surrounding and haranguing the referee, waving imaginary yellow cards and arguing for a minute before going after being sent off are all objectively bad.Stuart James, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
Noun
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James Devaney Vivienne, of course, joined Jolie on opening night of The Outsiders, dressing on-theme in a navy utilitarian jumpsuit and converse.Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2024
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Later, Lacy watches inquisitively as Janet converses with Avi (Elias Koteas), the leader of a cultish theatrical troupe who sets his sights on her.Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Noun
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Warrington then led an internal review that found Epshteyn allegedly solicited money from potential Trump nominees in exchange for promoting them to the president-elect.Alison Durkee, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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For other travel twins, the report called out Fukuoka in southern Japan as an excellent alternative to Tokyo, Dublin in exchange for London, and Athens in lieu of a Roman holiday.Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourse. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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