as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind
to a people who have lived under one dictatorship after another, democracy and freedom are mere abstractions
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Recent Examples of abstraction
Refusing sculpture’s decorum, Noah Purifoy turns neighborhood rubble into Johnsian abstraction that predicts his ramshackle desert sculptures.
—
Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Highlights from the Shah Garg Collection that will be exhibited include early abstraction by Janet Sobel and Judy Chicago, textile work from Faith Ringgold and Sheila Hicks, and innovative mixed media by Christina Quarles, Tschabalala Self, and Anicka Yi.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
This exhibition showcases her visual language that intertwines elements of abstraction with storytelling, creating a playful yet profound commentary on themes of identity, nature and urban life.
—Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
The issue is that if the impulses behind these choices are recognizable in theory, the characters themselves are broad to the point of abstraction.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstraction
Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Highlights from the Shah Garg Collection that will be exhibited include early abstraction by Janet Sobel and Judy Chicago, textile work from Faith Ringgold and Sheila Hicks, and innovative mixed media by Christina Quarles, Tschabalala Self, and Anicka Yi.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
This exhibition showcases her visual language that intertwines elements of abstraction with storytelling, creating a playful yet profound commentary on themes of identity, nature and urban life.
—Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
The issue is that if the impulses behind these choices are recognizable in theory, the characters themselves are broad to the point of abstraction.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstraction
Noun
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Across a little over nine years in English football, Guardiola has learned from a different culture and adapted his own ideas to keep pace with changing times.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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That idea also died against business and political opposition.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This prefabricated container home features two bedrooms, a bathroom, and an open-concept kitchen and living space.—
Jessica Comstock,
Southern Living,
8 Oct. 2025
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Instead of nurturing bold concepts through this early stage, investors are now implicitly asking that entrepreneurs crawl through it alone.—
Roman Axelrod,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But there have been some career stumbles recently, a superhero disappointment in particular, that must have complicated Johnson’s conception of his remarkable career.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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Many of the 90-plus works are returning to France for the first time since their conception.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There's this whole notion of growing up.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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Of course Swift’s legion of devotees would scoff at the notion that their heroine was anything but a pop goddess, their very own Glinda the Good Witch sent to comfort with lyrical poetry and aid crumpled hearts.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That’s where Chase focused his thoughts on what needs to come next.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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While speaking during a panel discussion at the event, Howard opened up about her time directing episodes of Ahsoka specifically — as well as her thoughts on the upcoming second season.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And those impressions tend to stick.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
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My impression of bath mats, from years of owning ones that end up getting soggy on contact, was that there was little to nothing to do about mildew, puddles of water, and discoloration.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstraction. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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