abstract 1 of 3

abstract

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noun

abstract

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verb

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
His instruments—ranging from traditional to boldly abstract—were sculpted from woods with layered histories, including timber from trees once used in the lynching of Black men. Peter White, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025 That’s a little abstract, sorry. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
The study, published as an abstract in May in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition, examined 4,915 adults and grouped them by red-meat intake and diet quality based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Healthy Eating Index (HEI), which scores diets on a scale of 0 to 100. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025 By the mid-20th century, abstracts had become ubiquitous in scholarly articles. Naomi S. Baron, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
For a digital computer, time is thin, unidimensional, and abstracted away from its thermodynamic arrow. Anil Seth, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025 Some network models already demonstrate how software can abstract away the complexity of managing resources across multiple providers and locations. Baris Saydag, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abstract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
  • White Out is like something from the high-modernist era of Joyce and Woolf—dark, fragmented, impressionistic, saturated with irony and black humor.
    Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Those scenes serve to blend the past and present in a way that suits the film’s impressionistic style.
    Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • As well as showing Ryland Grace pre- (no beard) and post- (lots of beard) spaceflight, this first teaser provides a thorough summary of the movie's premise for anyone yet to read Weir's novel.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division.
    Real-Time News team, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame hadn’t even crossed her mind, let alone make it onto any of her manifestation boards.
    Anna Tingley, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The tort claim asked for at least $300,000 in damages on behalf of the woman, who’s suffering from nausea, anxiety and sleeplessness as physical manifestations of emotional distress, Gordon wrote in the claim.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To many climate advocates, focusing too much on measures to prepare society for the physical costs of climate change risked distracting from efforts to cut emissions.
    Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Critics, though, have argued that these efforts are serving to distract from the country’s record of repressing free speech and dissent, as well as human rights violations, which have been widely reported.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To summarize the last few days, he was waived at the end of the Braves' season, passed through waivers, outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, and opted to leave the organization.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The following table summarizes details about ashwagandha and L-theanine.
    Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Our own investments in AI over the last decade have transitioned from theoretical exploration to practical implementation, delivering tangible results for businesses.
    Derya Matras, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
  • To overcome that, some investors are choosing to back companies that use AI to solve immediate and costly business problems for established large clients, rather than chase a theoretical potential.
    Ganesh Rao,Julianna Tatelbaum, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The entire collection was inspired by the post-impressionist painter, featuring bursts of color and delicate construction throughout, curated by Rodarte founders Kate and Laura Mulleavy.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
  • The story by outlines how Citic Telecom CPC company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates three Baltic Sea cables that carry information from private individuals, companies, and authorities.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, there’s just a drawing, an outline of the back of the heads of two young women in hoodies.
    Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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