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 As a result, his compositions have become strange totems of the internet, like global ringtones. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 The group remains one of the most successful and beloved acts in rock history, as well as a commercial juggernaut in its home country decades after many of its most famous compositions were first released. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Nishimura’s compositions offer truthful portraits of artifice. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026 Painterly compositions, operatic violence, and surreal emotional logic overwhelm the audience in twisted worlds that overwhelm first and explain second. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026 Adidas’ body mapped mechanical stretch jerseys for its World Cup partners allowed for 100 percent polyester compositions. Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 21 July 2026 The music will draw heavily from Emmy Award-winning composer Jeremy Zuckerman’s iconic compositions, which have elevated the series’ modern setting and complex themes. Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 16 July 2026 Lucky’s initial escape through a casino floor is shot predominantly in midrange close-ups, with no experimentation in building tension through unexpected compositions or cuts. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026 Her compositions are often marked by her love of long, slow glissandi, string instruments sliding, sometimes languorously, sometimes dramatically, up and down in ways that can be haunting and disorienting, but always captivating and entrancing. Steve Hochman, SPIN, 15 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compositions
Noun
  • Ellis’ other works include Less Than Zero and American Psycho.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The concept started as a way to give artists a forum for selling their works and bringing the community together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • More recently, though, articles published on the Forum's platform have started asking a more personal question.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The prosecutor recommended the commission seek articles of impeachment, refer the matter to law enforcement and have the mayor repay the $50,000.
    Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The converted building with its red brick facade is favored for its large windows, multi-level layouts, outdoor terraces and ceilings that reach up to 25 feet.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The residences range from two-bedroom homes to penthouses, with even the smallest layouts measuring more than 2,000 square feet.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • This is an excellent collection of scholarly critical essays about the poem—a great sample of some of the exciting literary critical work that has been and is still being done on Homer.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 31 July 2026
  • Cusack is making his graphic novel debut with Momo, but the actor previously co-wrote a 2016 collection of essays titled Things that Can and Cannot Be Said.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • There, guests can browse popular collections like Aquaracer and Formula 1 along with exclusive pieces from the brand’s 60th Anniversary Carrera collection.
    Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Coltrane adopted Naima’s daughter, Syeeda, and wrote beautiful pieces for both.
    Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Now condemned and boarded up, cordoned off by sagging tape, dirty roll-up door set to adorn the front pages of tomorrow’s papers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Igor Cassini, a former society columnist for the Hearst papers and the brother of Oleg Cassini, Jacqueline Kennedy’s favorite couturier, was the chairman of Le Club’s board.
    Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • An internal skunkworks was set up in California with a brief to rethink the idea of a universal EV platform from the ground up, taking into account the advances made by EV startups and clean-sheet designs both in the US but especially China.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In 1912, the pen cases were acquired by Louis Cartier as reference pieces for his jewelry designs.
    News Desk, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • This move reflects a broader industry trend of re-evaluating AI integration, emphasizing that while AI creates abundance, unique human contributions like personal stories and opinions are increasingly valuable.
    William Arruda, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But then in the editing room, the two stories didn’t fit together.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compositions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compositions. Accessed 8 Aug. 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