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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of abstract
Henry Grabar,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2026
The book offers a sharp (but complicated) critical apparatus for thinking about these abstract themes individually and in conjunction, through historical, psychological, embodied, and practical gestures.
—
Literary Hub,
26 June 2026
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
But in his hands, these forms were never neutral, blank, or abstract.
—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
Max Norman,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
This visual vocabulary emerged in The Man at the Tree (1968) and The Wood on Its Head (1969), and later devolved, with his subjects abstracted to the point of pulp.
—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abstract
Adjective
More abstract, there is a widespread belief (or there was, before this summer) that AC is a wasteful and distinctly American indulgence.
—
Henry Grabar,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2026
The book offers a sharp (but complicated) critical apparatus for thinking about these abstract themes individually and in conjunction, through historical, psychological, embodied, and practical gestures.
—
Literary Hub,
26 June 2026
Noun
The disillusioned 32% aren’t angry in the abstract.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
But in his hands, these forms were never neutral, blank, or abstract.
—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
Beginning in the eighteen-nineties, Karl Blossfeldt took closeups of plants abstracted from their environments, making visible the art of their natural curlicues and reticulations.
—
Max Norman,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
This visual vocabulary emerged in The Man at the Tree (1968) and The Wood on Its Head (1969), and later devolved, with his subjects abstracted to the point of pulp.
—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abstract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
-
Just as hedgehogs deplore foxes for a lack of theoretical ambition, foxes spend their time screaming at hedgehogs for missing this or that eloquent detail.
-
The researchers found that the measurements matched theoretical calculations, thereby serving as evidence that thorium atoms can bind with each other.
Adjective
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Dreams of Violets can feel disjointed in spots, but perhaps not more than any impressionistic movie about a crisis.
-
Mann directs with a dreamy, almost impressionistic hand that feels right at home alongside his more polished later work.
Noun
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Although the court livestreams the audio of oral arguments, that’s not the case for the summaries the justices give of their opinions.
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The three liberal justices dissented as to the Equal Protection Clause, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor read a summary of her dissent from the bench.
Noun
-
And her theory is embodied by Bartlett’s leper character, who in his literal and physical anonymity feels simultaneously like a manifestation of the island itself and a guardian of its promise.
-
Highly intelligent individuals are often perceived as impatient, but psychologists suggest this trait may actually be a manifestation of their sharp minds.
Verb
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Efforts to organize and tidy often turned into sitting on the floor surrounded by piles of stuff and getting easily distracted with sentimental finds.
-
But that was a bit ago, and there is a theory now that perhaps this is starting to leak, or maybe be confirmed soon, to distract from the recent, very poor performance of Supergirl in theaters.
Verb
-
Could the model summarize a contract, answer a customer, support an analyst or a clinician?
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Ultimately, the entire discipline of artificial intelligence can be summarized as the effort to recreate the intelligence of human brains in silicon machines.
Adjective
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In both the real and metaphysical locations of the show, the backgrounds are all painted by hand, something which was pointed out took up a lot of time due to the number of paintings in the show and due to the number of montages.
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In the 18th century Samuel Johnson coined the term metaphysical poets to criticize Donne, John Cleveland, and Abraham Cowley.
Adjective
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Don't miss the renowned impressionist collection with paintings by Monet and van Gogh.
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The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace appears like a post-impressionist vision, its beige crown backdropped by the freckled green of the Maniyagarh hills.
Cite this Entry
“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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