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
-
Not everyone is confirmed to attend the Riviera shindig, but here’s a look at some of the possibilities.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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Drinking more water really is key to glowing skin, an extra few hours of sleep does more… Accessorize Pearl Jam Pearls are back, as one look at the Paris runways will attest.—
Michael Odell,
Air Mail,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Reelected in November to a third term, Murphy is in his third new phase as a senator — the first 10 years building a gun control movement, the last two as a broker of bipartisan deals on gun safety and border control.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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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Typically, these phrases should be taken with a grain of salt.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
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
-
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
-
In each instance, the duties of the office transfigured the man into a sign and symbol of hope in the face of death.—
The Editors,
National Review,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Unfortunately, the question of how much worth is placed on an Israeli life versus a Palestinian one is answered mostly in words, and thus, in too direct (and perhaps too didactic) a fashion, when so much of the movie’s drama could have grounded it emotionally.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
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Stephen Graham is mulling over the right word to capture the past month of his life.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 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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