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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abstraction
This revolutionary technique—which Turner would revisit later in his career with great success—allowed forms to break down into near abstractions with the wispy character of watercolor.
—
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
As for his minimalist animation style, the director insists abstraction with a blending and overlapping in visuals and sound better explains a tumultuous world using his film.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Engineers should hide complexity behind sensible defaults and include clean abstractions that allow extensions and clear documentation.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The luminous black abstraction dominating the surface was visibly painted after the figures, which feel like they are being held in its embrace.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstraction
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
As for his minimalist animation style, the director insists abstraction with a blending and overlapping in visuals and sound better explains a tumultuous world using his film.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Engineers should hide complexity behind sensible defaults and include clean abstractions that allow extensions and clear documentation.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The luminous black abstraction dominating the surface was visibly painted after the figures, which feel like they are being held in its embrace.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstraction
Noun
-
Miloš had a wacky idea about Burt Reynolds for a while.—
Jordan Hoffman Updated,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
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Just as the fish rise to the surface when the water is calm, your best ideas may surface when your mind is tranquil and wandering during an evening shower.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
10 July 2025
Noun
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The modern concept of a franchise has been around since the mid 1850s, with the first franchisor believed to have been Isaac Singer, the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company and the inventor of the sewing machine.—
Fiona Simpson,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The show gained momentum at the Asian Television Forum in December 2022, where executive producer Michelle Chang pitched the concept to The One Enterprise.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Tom muses, in graphic detail, about his parents’ actions that led to his conception, birth and growing up to enter this particular restaurant on this particular date.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
1 July 2025
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If anything, the Meta ruling confirms a worrying truth: that the law’s current conception of fair use isn’t built for AI—it’s being bent around it.—
Aron Solomon
June 27,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
Noun
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That latter idea flows from a notion that if rescissions are proposed late in the fiscal year and Congress does not have the full 45-day period to act on any such proposals, the funds expire and become unavailable for obligation.—
Doug Criscitello,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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The notion that this person is out there somewhere in the world and Charlie Cale has her Moriarty, her Lex Luthor, is very exciting.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Another concerning aspect of AI's influence on our freedom of thought is its capacity to distort memory and perception.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Even the people in my life, letting that dumb thought go, has opened so many more doors for me.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
1 July 2025
Noun
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After joining the Bulls from the San Antonio Spurs in February in the three-team trade-deadline deal that sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, Jones quickly made a strong impression on the coaching staff and front office.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
1 July 2025
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Lombard made a strong impression on the Yankees this past spring as a first-time invitee to big league camp.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstraction. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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