as in notions
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 abstractions
Messaging must make distinctions, but also avoid getting lost in parenthetic abstractions or potentially easier-to-discredit targets.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
There are shades and shadows and abstractions.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
Are these just words or abstractions?
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
At Frieze, Fuentes will have a selection of historic abstractions by the artist from the 1970s.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 19 Feb. 2025
For her, these struggles over morality and conduct are not historical abstractions, but a part of her lived experience — and her present.
—Sadie Stein, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Barak brings the abstractions of carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions to vivid, tangible life.
—Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
Its rigid thematic frame—an arid realm of thinly evoked abstractions—carries over into its composition.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025
Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
There are shades and shadows and abstractions.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
Are these just words or abstractions?
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
At Frieze, Fuentes will have a selection of historic abstractions by the artist from the 1970s.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 19 Feb. 2025
For her, these struggles over morality and conduct are not historical abstractions, but a part of her lived experience — and her present.
—Sadie Stein, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Barak brings the abstractions of carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions to vivid, tangible life.
—Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
Its rigid thematic frame—an arid realm of thinly evoked abstractions—carries over into its composition.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstractions
Noun
-
The answer depends entirely on subjective judgements, and people have wildly differing notions of what behaviors are appropriate.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Aug. 2025
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The Gaza war shattered notions that, for years, have been activated on behalf of a peace-process mythology.—
Hussein Agha,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But Enyedi is a master stylist who knows how to create a certain mood, mixing visual poetry with deadpan humor, and big ideas with quotidian foibles, in a film that explores our mysterious relationship with both the green world and one another.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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Fortunately, Swift and Kelce seem to share similar values and are publicly supportive of each other’s careers, but for many people, ideas about what a man or woman is supposed to do can be an obstacle, Lutter said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One of the charming aspects of following foreign football is realising that certain concepts are expressed in different ways to how it’s done in your own country.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Elsewhere there will be Waiting For the Out, the adaptation of Andy West’s memoir written by Dennis Kelly about a philosopher teaching prisoners concepts such as dominance and free will only to have his own past unravel.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As a lifelong Catholic, thoughts and prayers, and knowing God is watching over me, give me comfort and the strength to get through tumultuous times.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Want to stay up to date on IndieWire’s film reviews and critical thoughts?—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There were reporters and photographers all around, clamoring for interviews and pictures.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Hanson has always been a great fashion photographer, especially good at capturing feminine exuberance, but the span of time that has passed since these pictures were taken now establishes them as bona-fide historical artifacts to boot.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These aren't just impressions—they're experiences that drive immediate conversion while building brand affinity.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Driving impressions The Sportage hybrid accelerates well from a standstill.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstractions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstractions. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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