abstract 1 of 3

abstract

2 of 3

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
Eva Altman is displaying her abstract geometric paintings, loosely reminiscent of those by Dutchy painter Piet Mondrian, for the second year (Booth D13). Daniella Walsh, Oc Register, 28 July 2025 In a world where professional development often feels abstract, especially in hybrid environments, business travel offers something tangible: face time, proximity, and momentum. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
Weight loss ranged from 2.6% to 11.3%, according to the abstract. Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 14 June 2025 None of the grant abstracts reviewed by The New York Times called for censoring content. Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
Underlying monthly job growth, abstracting from the vagaries of the data, is less than 100k. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 3 July 2025 After apartheid was established in 1948, many artists in South Africa contended with its corresponding oppression and bodily violence by presenting the human figure in animal form or abstracting it. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for abstract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
  • Frenetic, handheld scenes of Jordan’s friends guzzling handles of Tito’s at house parties give way to impressionistic passages of those same friends walking through a local nature preserve or pumping gas in the small hours before daylight.
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Regaining Unconsciousness, her first collection in a dozen years, feels like an archival boxset, with over a hundred poems grouped into eleven sections with the impressionistic, welcoming vibe of playlists.
    Christopher Spaide August 1, Literary Hub, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • These models generate text, code, images and summaries.
    Naren Narendran, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In many ways, Vance’s rise has been a compelling manifestation of that retreat.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Prior to the tumor's manifestation, her only symptom had been a sore arm, which the doctors chalked up to arthritis.
    Simar Bajaj, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Listen for the signs Notifications, newsfeeds and WhatsApp groups are distracting you from making a difference with your work.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Investigators believe Kernodle went up the stairs toward Mogen's room, which could've distracted Kohberger, Gilbertson said.
    Kayna Whitworth, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Interconnected Causes Of Managerial Obsolescence To summarize, the principal interconnected reasons why firms and their managers are becoming obsolete are: Wrong mindset: making profits for themselves, not creating value for others.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The narrative might be summarized like this: supernatural Taylor Swift-type kills evil spirits while struggling with her own inner demons.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This score reflects real-world usage rather than theoretical task analysis.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The resulting mysteries and their solutions only get more creative once the gang is back together, even dipping into theoretical science and thought experiments as the basis of his mind-bending stories.
    Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • The seven bright stars of the dipper outline the rear end and the tail of the constellation Big Bear, or Ursa Major.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Then, give me a content outline, title options, and a plan to price and launch it.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The image, which appears to have been created with AI, shows the prison in the background.
    Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Keeping the moon in the background of an image with another subject is often much more powerful than an image of just the moon.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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