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
Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
While neutral tones, minimalism, and perfectionism have long reigned supreme, people are now craving spaces that are functional, approachable, and personal.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2025
Architects are leaning into minimalism, letting the dramatic scenery take center stage.
—Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Still, Loy’s gritty minimalism, enlivened with bleak, Beckettian humor, established a convincing continuity for the evening.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minimalism
Cite this Entry
“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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