conceit 1 of 2

1
as in metaphor
an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something the conceit that the crowd at the outdoor rock concert was a vast sea of people waving to the beat of the music

Synonyms & Similar Words

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conceit

2 of 2

verb

chiefly dialect

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 conceit
Noun
Its conceit is a neat one for a film — and totally believable for a family history from anarchic Eastern Europe after the Second World War. Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025 The pair have taken this conceit and reworked it to be about a football player who, after blowing his college career, dons a whole new disguise, that of Chad Powers, and tries to win it all back. Lucy Ford, Time, 28 Aug. 2025 This could be considered conceit. William Schomberg, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025 The series is still going strong thanks to numerous sequels and a spinoff, wading into such over-the-top territory that the initial street racing conceit is now little more than window dressing. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conceit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceit
Noun
  • But more alarming than the ways in which this physical space could turn against us was the simple metaphor of a wizened little man pulling a boat down a river in the dark.
    Ann Patchett, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Obviously, the zombie metaphor is quite obvious.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The milky manicure—which gives the illusion of a milky bath—has inspired plenty of spin-offs, usually worn with long almond nails.
    Grace McCarty, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2025
  • As represented by Camus, absurdism emphasizes accepting the absurdity of life and finding joy without illusions, often through gallows humor.
    Big Think, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Happy Valentine’s Day card The vanity in the dressing room of the pop-up is the Easter egg mother lode, according to the Spotify reps, who encouraged us to look closely on it for clues.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
  • This means cleaning your toilet, vanity countertops, and scrubbing the shower door and tiles.
    Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Compounding the cacophony is a Jonny Greenwood score that veers between manic percolation—imagine a xylophone humping a coffeepot—and grandly operatic surges of synth.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Drivers like Doell aren’t imagining the transformation.
    Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • American budgets, jobs, health, welfare and environmental treasures cannot afford more energy fantasies, especially offshore wind.
    Craig Rucker, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Of course, people make boastful statements of dubious merit all the time, but, as our story explains, Robinson has monetized his fantasies by selling development masterclasses to aspiring writers and offering other services for a fee.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Powers is really a one-time star quarterback Russ Holliday who bowed out of the game in disgrace following an incident where his oversized ego over-engaged with a fan.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Well, there are 8 billion people in the world and some of them have very strong egos and some are very rich.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Anderson envisioned the scene where Penn’s Lockjaw does his paternity test with Willa as taking place in a chapel, so La Purisima’s sanctuary provided the perfect backdrop for his perverse quest.
    Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Lazarus envisions Versant as a bridge between the past and future of media, a company that will use the large but declining cash generated by cable subscriptions to fund acquisition and investment in building the next generation of news and sports media.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Are your security goals on course to support your bigger dreams in life?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Many surrealist artists cast women as muses or dream figures conjured for the male gaze.
    Sally Jane Brown, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceit. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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