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
Providence doesn’t give you a Latin teacher for a mother without consequence: Samy declaimed classical locutions with scandalous ease.
—
Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
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
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
Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for locution
Noun
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The dragon’s tail on the Crew-13 patch wraps around Earth in a manner reminiscent of the blue contrail that connects Earth with the horses on the Apollo 13 insignia.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
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Another challenge is that sometimes DCF has to request police reports from another state and the information is not obtained in a timely manner, the DCF worker said.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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All modes of severe weather will be possible, including damaging winds, hail, flooding, and even a tornado.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
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At some point, these issues will be ironed out, or the Oilers will be in offseason mode in short order.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In scenes where Yura remembers her childhood and its connection to the beast, the animation takes on a gauzier, more primitive style that matches the film’s more cosmic, oceanic themes.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
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For major criminals, the city seemed to offer not only impunity but also sunshine, an easy life style, and safety.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, Bessent took a different tone when the possibility of being the Fed chair came up.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
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With Hunter setting the tone in the trenches, Texas Tech reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Locution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locution. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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