Thesaurus results for DISCOURSE

discourse 1 of 2

noun

ˈdi-ˌskȯrs

Definition of discourse

as in conversation

talking or a talk between two or more people Thomas Jefferson is said to have been able to participate in knowledgeable discourse on a breathtaking array of subjects

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

discourse

2 of 2

verb

as in to lecture

to give a formal often extended talk on a subject the guest lecturer discoursed at some length on the long-term results of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to speak

to talk as if giving an important and formal speech grandly discoursed as though he were an expert on every subject

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 discourse

Noun

And that basically shifted the opinion of many Iranians who did not buy into the discourse of the Islamic Republic. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 This season, political discourse around the league has mostly centered upon the issue of transgender women’s participation in sport. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

All the while, discourse around the television series has formed a buzzy backdrop to the sale. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2026 The most explicitly political of the year’s major contenders is also the odds-on Best Picture front-runner, which has made OBAA discourse the season’s most inescapable topic. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discourse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourse

Noun

Brian Romick, the president of Democratic Majority for Israel, put out an issue framework last month in an attempt to move the conversation from the language to the actual policy.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Miller's attempt to recast the conversation about his divorce echoed efforts by other candidates who are struggling to overcome concerns about their character.

— Lara Korte The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of conversation

Verb

But Netanyahu’s government wanted the existing framework kept intact, according to multiple sources who spoke to TIME, including an Israeli official and an international diplomat.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

— HAVEN DALEY, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of speak

Noun

No discussion of nuclear deterrence should ever lose sight of the human lives behind those words.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Those discussions reveal how employees think and give managers a chance to coach reasoning, not just review the final deliverable.

— Samir Dutta, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of discussion

Noun

Recorded at The Stand in New York City, The Guest Spot will see Shaw converse with guests from the stand-up, digital and comedy worlds.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
He was known at the Academy for his wit, his writing skills and his Friday Lunch tradition where staff members from various departments would join him to eat and converse.

— Pat Saperstein, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of converse

Verb

Related Stories Cruise, declaiming every line, acting with blind bluster and a mean gleam of good-ol’-boy joy, makes Digger a walking cartoon — a larger-than-life satire of over-the-top American arrogance, like LBJ crossed with Foghorn Leghorn.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
And the conversations between Anna and Molly, Ella and Julia (Ella’s friend and a counterpart of Molly), as well as the stammering and declaiming when Anna talks to herself, are almost always about men.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of declaim

Browse Nearby Words

discouraging

discourse

discoursed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourse. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of discourse

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes