minimalism
noun
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In the 1960s, a few composers, including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and John Adams, began writing music inspired by the music of India and Southeast Asia, often with a quick pulsing beat and chords that are repeated quickly over and over while small changes are slowly introduced. Minimalist art, which began appearing around the same time, tries to strip away all personal elements, often leaving only pure geometric forms; you may have seen the plain silver boxes of Donald Judd, or the straight neon tubes of Bruce Nauman. In literature, the stripped-down fiction of Samuel Beckett and Raymond Carver is often considered minimalist. But there's a real question whether these various types of minimalism should even be considered the same concept.
Examples of minimalism in a Sentence
Seth Sherwood, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Performed with specific minimalism, the act featured the men standing on the stage and eyeing the camera, until one of them breaks out into flailing dance moves to the tune of a violin solo.
—Nick Allen, Vulture, 13 May 2025
Zendaya embraced minimalism as power with her white three-piece suit and wide-brimmed hat.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Whether you're drawn to sleek minimalism or vibrant maximalism, these timeless tips will simplify the process and inspire you to craft a space that reflects your personality.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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