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
1
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
2
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
Sean Gentille, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Cook said that some of the discourse online about their decision had been negative.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Lucy Ford, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
And when extreme weather happens, discourse on those conspiracy theories tend to spike, Wagner told CNN.
—Ramishah Maruf, Brandon Miller, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Noun
After five games’ worth of discourse about the Hurricanes’ five-on-five dominance, the Capitals decisively won both the shot attempt and scoring-chance battle in the final 20 minutes of their season.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Cook said that some of the discourse online about their decision had been negative.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Verb
After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May and taking home the coveted Jury Prize and a joint Best Actress prize for its female ensemble (the three aforementioned performers plus Adriana Paz), discourse around Emilia Pérez lit up like a New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
And when extreme weather happens, discourse on those conspiracy theories tend to spike, Wagner told CNN.
—Ramishah Maruf, Brandon Miller, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourse
Noun
-
Ten teams had better chances and most analysts didn’t even mention them in championship conversations.—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
-
Then again, the same team source said Roy had conversations with ownership during the GM search.—
Arthur Staple,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
These days, nothing infuriates liberals more than to be lectured about the American plutocracy — not when Trump is perhaps the most brazenly corrupt president to hold the office in modern history.—
Alexander Heffner,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
-
Maybe Healey can lecture them on how to sue Trump a hundred times and bankrupt a state on migrant hotel shelters.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
The billionaire South African businessman, Johann Rupert, spoke forcefully too.—
Jonny Steinberg,
Time,
22 May 2025
-
The presenters spoke their mother tongue (Farsi and Hindi), which was detected and translated in real-time to English.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Nothing creates as much interest among UCF faithful as uniform discussions.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 May 2025
-
Jack Lang Botafogo Another Brazilian side who have no interest in, and have had no discussions over, signing Ronaldo.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Reopen Scripps Coastal Reserve first, talk later This letter was sent to California Coastal Commission enforcement staff counsel Andrew Willis, with a copy to the La Jolla Light.—
Letters To The Editor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2025
-
Patti LuPone stood in a midtown recording studio one spring afternoon, talking to Carrie Bradshaw.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Verb
-
Coaches, who represent their schools, are strongly encouraged to work with officials rather than harangue them.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
21 May 2025
-
Angela was introduced in the series premiere as the ex-wife of Tommy Norris (played by Billy Bob Thornton), seen only in haranguing FaceTime calls.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Liv Hewson ended up wearing the pink converse sneakers.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The chatbot converses with patients while simultaneously reviewing their medical records, then generates a ranked list of diagnoses and makes recommendations, such as for prescription drugs or lab tests.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The very principle of financialization rules even the most mundane exchange of objects in the same manner that the most banal exchange of economic investment and speculation regulates the sign of spiritual autonomy and utopian aspirations that abstraction had initially promised.—
Benjamin H. D. Buchloh,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
-
On Thursday, Lurie announced on social media that cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is opening an office in San Francisco after leaving the city four years ago.—
Wendy Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourse. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share