Definition of dictionnext
1
as in articulation
the clear and accurate pronunciation of words especially in public speaking Shakespearean actors with very good diction

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2
as in language
the way in which something is put into words the spare diction that is the hallmark of the poetry of Robert Frost

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of diction The spice that makes this dish work is Carl's precious decor and fussiness about keeping the place impeccable, communicated with exquisite diction by the burly Scales. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 The nearly 6-foot actor was made to look a foot shorter; given a balding, combover haircut; and was forced to adopt a completely new diction and set of mannerisms. Max Gao, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025 The first three were post-dictions of inflation; the latter four were predictions that had not yet been observed when they were made. Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025 Raised in the Highbridge section of the Bronx not far from where DJ Kool Herc threw the 1973 party revered as rap music’s spiritual baby shower, Cardi bookends those songs with experiments in accentuating and contrasting her distinctly New York diction. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diction
Noun
  • Only its articulations and the environment in which it is felt shift.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Ashley’s fear of abandonment has developed throughout the season; Austin’s articulation only puts a fine point on it, instead of deepening their relationship.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Across collectors, cultural institutions and design circles, perfume bottles are increasingly being recognized not as packaging, but as artifacts — objects that preserve history, identity and the visual language of their time.
    Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The milquetoast nature of the statement — with its measured language and nonexistent call to action — and the broader absence of real accountability have nagged at me for weeks.
    Uzma Rentia, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • King Charles’s historic address to Congress on Tuesday has already been hailed as one of the most important speeches of his reign.
    Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Most campuses earned failing grades for their speech climates.
    Jason Jewell, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Carlucci pointed out an issue with the wording of ADM-3 is that the scheduling of state tournaments can sometimes shift.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Graham disagreed and asked Driggs to consider his wording.
    DIAMOND VENCES, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Moira was a constant scene-stealer, with her over-the-top outfits and unique enunciation.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
  • But the tunefulness and, well, enunciation showcased on his third album, Jump Out, are equally related to Chicago drill melodicists like Sicko Mobb, and closer in content and delivery to emo-rap crooners and the hazy absurdism of the Pack than rage.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Japanese sunscreen has always been the best; the lightest formulations, the silkiest textures, and some of the most affordable prices too.
    Anita Bhagwandas, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Available in two formulations, original and gentle for skin sensitive to salicylic acid.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In a league too often sanitized by coachspeak, facial expressions might be our last great truth serum.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • But the publishing industry is not the only place where space for free expression is dwindling in Russia.
    Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Diction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diction. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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