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
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Here he’s been renamed Vadim (or Vlad) Baranov and is played by Paul Dano in the actor’s charmingly offhand and cerebral manner.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
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The former general further called on the public to express their aspirations in a peaceful and constructive manner, and promised their voices will be heard.—
Niniek Karmini,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Israelis and Palestinians might uncover novel ways to talk, and imagine new modes of living together.—
Hussein Agha,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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The same was also true for the second game, although the addition of first-person elements did change things up somewhat (and no, the first game’s Integral first-person mode is not the same functionally).—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And just as important as its style and storage is its price.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
30 Aug. 2025
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Laissez-faire, free-market style capitalism has been a cornerstone of the Republican Party's economic platform, and Trump has always touted himself as a capitalist businessman.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Naveena Denim Mills is introducing new directions in dye and wash aesthetics, including smokey grey, green cast, and brown cast indigo tones that bring a fresh update to classic denim.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Aug. 2025
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Children, especially in early developmental stages, are acutely sensitive to tone, timing, and emotional mirroring.—
Marc Fernandez,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Locution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locution. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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