compositions

plural of composition
1
as in works
a literary, musical, or artistic production the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in articles
a short piece of writing done as a school exercise a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in layouts
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in essays
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compositions Shea and mango butters, along with olive oil, work in tandem to soften, nourish, and condition the skin beneath all that coverage, preventing the tight, dry feeling that heavier matte compositions can leave behind. Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026 Bigger display fireworks, such as salutes that contain two grains – 130 milligrams – of explosive materials and professional-grade aerial shells with more than 60 grams of pyrotechnic compositions, can't be purchased for recreational use. Finch Walker, USA Today, 12 June 2026 There are a dozen on offer in various compositions, but a trio were presented at debut with slabs of coral, turquoise, and lapis lazuli as their backdrop. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026 Fragrance experts say shoppers are trading bright, fresh-from-the-laundry-line scents for compositions that feel like a hug. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026 Pinney’s avid, canny compositions put these varied appurtenances in plain view, foreground and background, making these empty outdoor spaces feel implicitly busy with civic life and labor. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026 Music producer David Foster, a longtime family friend, stopped by while working on a project and discovered LeFrak's compositions for the first time. Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 There’s a cosmic irony in referencing Yoshimura, whose soothing compositions were famously commissioned to accompany showrooms for model homes in Japan in the 1980s and have since become synonymous with domestic comfort. Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 11 June 2026 The canvases, carefully arranged in structured compositions, rise in the gallery like geological formations or ancient architectural monuments, according to Claeysen-Gleyzon. Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compositions
Noun
  • Fling has not directed a mainstage show at Goodspeed before, but he’s been deeply involved in every production there since one of his roles is as a line producer overseeing all the shows not just at the Opera House but at Goodspeed’s space for new works, the Terris Theatre in Chester.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
  • Gutierrez said the jury would not privilege any particular documentary form, but would prioritize works that communicate genuine emotion and connect with viewers.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Both of those marks targeted a wide swath of categories, from mobile games, jewelry and bags to container goods, textiles, clothing and sporting articles.
    Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 16 June 2026
  • The team searched family history records, old newspaper articles and other historical sources to gather material.
    Velvet Wu June 16, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • There’s a 7-inch TFT color display with three layouts, night mode, and Apple CarPlay as standard.
    Utkarsh Sood June 13, New Atlas, 13 June 2026
  • Families will also appreciate the larger room layouts and pullout couch options in select suites, which make traveling with kids a little less chaotic and a lot more comfortable.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • At our junket interview for Netflix’s superhero comedy WONDERfools, however, Park provides miniature essays, often speaking for several minutes at a time, surprising us all.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • It’s composed largely of her brilliant, almost painfully intimate essays, originally published in The New Yorker, about the fraught dynamics between mothers and daughters.
    Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • West Elm has an under-the-radar outlet hub that’s regularly updated with fresh open-box deals and is chock-full of furniture, bedding, and décor pieces.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
  • The majority of items on show are from a collection that Lai Mah donated to the museum in 2022 comprising mostly of dresses belonging to Susan, as well as some pieces from her own mother, Li Zhang Huifang, who was a good friend of Susan’s.
    Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • There are millions of research papers published per year now—in popular topics, there are often multiple dozens of papers posted each day.
    Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
  • Screwworm map of cases in US, Texas Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas.
    Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Those programs remain at an early stage, but CEPI is assessing whether any of these vaccine designs could be tested during the current outbreak.
    Paul Adepoju, Scientific American, 14 June 2026
  • Charlotte has already allocated $300,000 toward a study looking at alternative designs, modeling and simulation techniques for land use planning, Watlington said.
    Nicholas Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Recent stories of the teenager shopping at a Walmart in Fort Oglethrope, Georgia, near Spain’s training base without attracting much attention illustrates the gap between soccer fame and broader American celebrity.
    Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
  • That makes the link between exercise and mental health one of the most actionable health stories anyone can read this week.
    Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compositions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compositions. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on compositions

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster