as in manner
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
-
Because of this, specialty coffee is also a game of logistics, getting coffees out of country in a timely manner in order to preserve the delicate sweetness and complexity that producers had worked so hard to create.—
Christopher Marquis,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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The bill would also require them to display legible identification, including their agency name or acronym and name or badge number in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
At least a tease, with 22 points, mostly in attack mode.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 July 2025
-
This helps explain why many people in fawn mode lose touch with their own needs and feelings.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Per our testers, this shoe excels in both comfort and style.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
26 July 2025
-
Note: Submissions have been edited for clarity and style.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The new sanctions threat marks a shift in tone as Russia intensifies its attacks and peace talks stall.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
-
Following Trump’s Saturday release of letters to Mexico and the European Union, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sought to strike a diplomatic tone.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Locution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locution. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
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