Definition of abstractnext
1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else personal problems abstracted him so persistently that he struggled to keep his mind on his work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 abstract
Adjective
When that motivation is directed at abstract problems, it gets called intellectual. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The researchers’ work, an unedited version of which saw early publication last month in the journal Nature Communications, makes this abstract question about prime numbers more tangible than ever before. Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
The potential of McDavid and Matthews becoming available is a concept that still very much exists in the abstract. Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 5 June 2026 The disillusioned 32% aren’t angry in the abstract. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Verb
Beginning in the eighteen-nineties, Karl Blossfeldt took closeups of plants abstracted from their environments, making visible the art of their natural curlicues and reticulations. Max Norman, New Yorker, 21 May 2026 For The Landing Daybed, Torres abstracted the catenary curves of bridge suspension cables for the arched legs. Diana Budds, Architectural Digest, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for abstract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
  • The Virgo Moon moves through your 2nd House of Resources, making spending, pricing, comfort, and self-worth feel more practical than theoretical.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The public comments came shortly after Fauci had privately raised the theoretical possibility that fever and cytokine-related reactions after a second vaccine dose could be associated with first-trimester miscarriage.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Hopkins weaves in old Welsh folk tunes and nods to impressionistic inspirations like Vaughan Williams and Frederick Delius.
    Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The impressionistic, black-and-white feature premiered at Telluride in 2024 and the New York Film Festival.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • This summary does an injustice to the originality and the sophistication of Tregenza’s way with narrative form.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That court hearing was preceded by an unusual and disturbing summary of the case filed with the court by Hochman.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The manifestations go beyond the growing equity control of businesses.
    James K. Glassman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Surely under our Constitution and laws the enlargement of our limits is a manifestation of the highest attribute of sovereignty, and if entered upon as an Executive act all things relating to the transaction should be clear and free from suspicion.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The running text would distract from interviews of newsmakers, for example, but executives do see more chances to use it.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Environmental groups, including the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, argue that bioplastics maintain the single-use paradigm and distract from real solutions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Agencies are moving fast toward letting AI agents query government data directly; not just render dashboards for humans to read, but retrieve records, summarize case files and flag anomalies on their own.
    Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The tool saves significant time, in particular searching for case law and summarizing lengthy documents.
    Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • That Dante lived during both the 13th and 14th centuries — and that Tosches’ movements as his novel’s protagonist take place at the start of the 21st century — means nothing in Schnabel’s meta-metaphysical realm.
    A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The war on language is more metaphysical than just the policing of proper social justice terminology, Williams argues.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • The exhibit of impressionist Vincent Van Gogh’s work combined moving images and music.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Reading Europe’s fate through the lives of two French sisters in a famous impressionist portrait.
    Luke Lyman, Washington Post, 13 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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