SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
diction
noun
The choice and arrangement of words, or the clarity with which they are pronounced.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Choice of words
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topVocabulary identifies available words; diction concerns which words a speaker or writer chooses.
Clarity of speech
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPronunciation also concerns accepted forms; diction here stresses how clearly listeners hear the words.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See diction in use
The essay's formal diction suited its scholarly audience.
Jo also reconsidered her diction, replacing vague expressions such as nice arrangement with more precise descriptions.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license