1
as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
the book deals with abstract matters such as honesty and integrity on the job as well as practical subjects such as asking for a raise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impressionistic
using elements of form (as color, line, or texture) with little or no attempt at creating a realistic picture
Cubism is a style of abstract art in which natural forms are broken up into geometric shapes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in summary
a short statement of the main points
the scientist wrote a bare-bones abstract of his research and conclusions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in manifestation
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality)
a recent college valedictorian who's been hailed as the very abstract of what's right with today's young people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in to summarize
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
took the 135-page report and abstracted it in three short paragraphs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abstract
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
For CalPERS, which committed over $2 billion to Blue Owl Diversified Lending vehicles, these are not abstract market concerns.
—Marc Joffe, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
Within this abstract, scientists can describe their findings, the impact of their findings, and the limitations of the work.
—Kirstin R.w. Matthews, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
The process of abstracting huge news events into memes has become much faster.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abstract
Adjective
If this idea seems abstract, conjure your own mental image of Altman.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
For CalPERS, which committed over $2 billion to Blue Owl Diversified Lending vehicles, these are not abstract market concerns.
—Marc Joffe, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
Graphic murals, on the other hand, like bold abstracts or large-scale shapes, tend to require a more intentional approach.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
Within this abstract, scientists can describe their findings, the impact of their findings, and the limitations of the work.
—Kirstin R.w. Matthews, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
And the Cubists picked up on that in the twentieth century and abstracted from his landscapes, making pure Cubist constructions in which the optical space on the canvas—very similar to Cezanne’s—was composed of little abstract blocks.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
The process of abstracting huge news events into memes has become much faster.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abstract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
-
Moreover, according to the researchers, their technique works even when there is no perfect theoretical model of the material, and the sample is not pure (which is often the case in real-world materials).—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This week, that scenario started to feel less theoretical.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But Harriet Tubman hasn’t written verses or choruses for her, instead opting for a whirlpool of slushy guitar and sticky rhythms that swirls around Muldrow’s impressionistic declarations and assertive meditations.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Teen-agers hung the page in their windows or on their walls, like today’s dorm-room posters of Che Guevara or Malcolm X or Tupac—less a sign of a specific political ideology than an impressionistic display of youthful rebellion.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The summary is usually ready within seconds after the appointment ends.—
Katherine Ruppelt,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Check out your summary of benefits for more details.—
Jackie Fortiér,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Within the parameters of a game—where non-player characters essentially function as different disguises for, and manifestations of, a single narrative engine—such paranoia might not be unjustified.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Its arrival in this sizzling Fire sign shifts the tone from dreamy introversion to active manifestation.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Administrators found that without their phones, students were using school laptops for distracting activities like watching YouTube or playing games, rather than learning.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Do something small to distract from the heaviness of burnout.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One such company is Blueprint, an AI assistant that summarizes sessions, updates electronic health records, and helps individual therapists track patient progress.—
Rhitu Chatterjee,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Users can summarize, translate, or extract information from files, while OCR functionality enables text recognition from images.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The movie addresses metaphysical questions such as the egregore of a generation, the nature of evil, and the search for God in times of His absence.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The most fundamental consequences of being struck by lightning are often metaphysical, and not easily communicable.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Her favorite is the impressionist Musée d'Orsay, which is undergoing renovation through summer 2028 but remains open.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Typewriters, stationery, fine-art museums, the quintessential impressionist painter—these are all associated with taste, beauty, and craft, as well as with intentionality and care, the opposite of the ruthless technological efficiency that repels many from generative AI.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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