mot juste
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Eustache filmed the 1968 and 1979 competitions, if “competition” is the mot juste for a contest whose participants appear to have little say in taking part.
From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2024
Gainsbourg is bilingual, but French is her first language; she pauses occasionally in our conversation to search around for le mot juste.
From The Guardian • Oct. 26, 2019
And as Barnum ended nearly a century of trying to edit that sense of wonder into the mot juste, he finally nailed it at the end.
From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2019
“And if they don’t want to feel rich, then they’re probably—” He pauses to consider the mot juste, then adds, “Dead.”
From The New Yorker • Jul. 13, 2018
It occurred to me that 'hungry' was perhaps the mot juste for him; but—hungry for what?
From Seven Men by Beerbohm, Max, Sir
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
