1
as in to express
to convey in appropriate or telling terms
the doctor was trying to formulate a good way to tell her that she would need surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to prepare
to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form
a writer planning to formulate a response to what he considered a very unfair review of his work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formulate
Brian Dutcher and his staff work hard during the basketball season, planning practices, formulating game plans, watching film, meeting with players, visiting with high school recruits, speaking with the media, talking to administrators, attending donor events, raising money, getting on planes.
—
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Adams was instrumental in the development of both plays, working closely with the writers to formulate how the dramaturgy would be conceived in three dimensions.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Garnier also offers other micellar water options formulated for different skincare concerns, such as mattifying, brightening or hydrating.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Incorporating ingredients such as witch hazel, aloe vera, and cucumber extract, it’s specially formulated to provide instant relief upon contact.
—Pamela Brill, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formulate
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Adams was instrumental in the development of both plays, working closely with the writers to formulate how the dramaturgy would be conceived in three dimensions.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Garnier also offers other micellar water options formulated for different skincare concerns, such as mattifying, brightening or hydrating.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Incorporating ingredients such as witch hazel, aloe vera, and cucumber extract, it’s specially formulated to provide instant relief upon contact.
—Pamela Brill, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formulate
Verb
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Beltran said expressing those emotions can bring people together.—
Edie Kasten,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The stateside Prime Video boss also expressed his conviction that the Super Bowl will eventually secure an exclusive berth on his company’s streaming platform, which suggests that Marine has read his John Maynard Keynes.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Despite intelligence that Saigon would be overrun by the North Vietnamese Army in a matter of days, the American Ambassador, Graham Martin, refused to prepare for an evacuation.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The only lockers with equipment left in them belonged to Alexandre Carrier and Noah Dobson, the team’s only two right-shot defencemen, two players who were clearly not boarding that flight the team’s equipment staff was preparing for.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Horwitz says the funds could increase teacher pay by as much as 5%, but they will also be used to provide more specialists and smaller class sizes.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Bartek, who rents three-quarters of his land, said landowners are increasing rents, causing further financial strain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Credit, therefore, for how Wrexham responded, belatedly bringing a sense of urgency to their play and halving the deficit through Windass’ composed 34th-minute finish.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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The league, composed mostly of former college players, starts each session with a draft to keep the teams even.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kepler devoted much of his career to figuring out optics, and was arguably the first scientific thinker to articulate the difference between seeing and perceiving.—
Rebecca Boyle,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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Horner seemed calm and articulate and also made inappropriate jokes during the interview, Espinoza said.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Also, Hill’s flexibility to move inside if necessary opens up the chance to draft an outside corner and still put him on the field immediately.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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The Iranian regime has yet to formally respond to a new proposal drafted by Pakistan, which was handed to Washington and Tehran on Sunday evening after indirect talks over the weekend.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Simply put, there’s no way that your husband won’t have to deal with this.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
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At this point, as one aide put it, Tisza is Magyar, and Magyar is Tisza.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As currently written, the bill would also formally declare the state’s ultimate goal to be restoration of the animals, once so ubiquitous that they are enshrined in the state’s flag.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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The email chain included a copy of that draft letter, which was written by Kozakiewicz but never sent.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formulate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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