1
as in theme
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motif
The store design reflects the brand, with a combination of traditional and natural materials and dynamic red accents, including an immense astral symbol, a motif of the brand, reflecting the shape of the openworked bridges on some models.
—
Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
First, the Greek and Roman pottery displayed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford (namely, the motifs and borders).
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 3 June 2025
The ground-level store features designs of local flora and bird motifs.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Breton stripes, fisherman sandals, shell motifs—anything that could remind you of the ocean is very much in play, and plenty of it is currently on sale at Nordstrom.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motif
Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
First, the Greek and Roman pottery displayed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford (namely, the motifs and borders).
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 3 June 2025
The ground-level store features designs of local flora and bird motifs.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Breton stripes, fisherman sandals, shell motifs—anything that could remind you of the ocean is very much in play, and plenty of it is currently on sale at Nordstrom.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motif
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motif
Noun
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The collections are often narrative-driven, reflecting personal experiences and contextual themes that connect ornament with identity and critique.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
5 June 2025
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The decision to film in Tasmania’s Eagle Hawk Neck region proved transformative for the production’s tone and themes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Suburbs around Minneapolis and Boston exhibited similar patterns, a reversal of traditional expectations where cities, rather than suburbs, drew the majority of renters.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
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The sneakers have bandana scarf patterns that are heavily featured in the designer’s 2025 high summer capsule collection.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Among European policymakers and companies, this has been an important topic.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
14 June 2025
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The incident raised the question of whether such hard racing was over the limit or within accepted bounds, a topic that continued to surface throughout different parts of the 2024 season.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
Noun
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There’s a great need for human expertise in system design and engineering, operational oversight and validation of results.—
Claire Trimble,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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For other styles and designs of squirrel-proof bird feeders from Amazon, see our other suggestions below.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Businesses are collateral damage as the explosion of immigration enforcement worsens staffing issues for businesses already facing worker shortages, according to Amy Peck, a partner with the Jackson Lewis law firm who represents employers in immigration matters.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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While the matter is unrelated to FAMU, she has been placed on administrative leave with pay until further notice.—
Oumou Fofana,
Essence,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The question of the teams’ rivalry status is not confirmed, but recent events point to the answer being a yes.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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And then comes the question of wages, which have stagnated and, in some cases, fallen in the past year when adjusted for inflation.—
Ben Kesslen,
Quartz,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motif.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motif. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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