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compositions

noun

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 Sanguinetti’s cinematography balances striking compositions befitting her photography career with a more immediate verité style content to be as freewheeling as Guillermina and Belinda were as children. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026 Yet there are surprisingly few evaluations across different ethnicities, body compositions, and intensities of physical activity. — Mike McRae 03, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026 The same could be said for the other multi-part compositions that make up the two and a half hours of Tongues. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026 This is a high-purity form of antimony which has defense uses, particularly in primers, ammunition and pyrotechnic compositions. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026 In her twenties, the compositions began to rise and fall on the page like ocean swells. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 The motif would grow alongside both her compositions and her legend, first engulfing frames, then rooms, and finally entire galleries. — Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 Beyond the Hits The tribute went well beyond the most obvious compositions. — Russ Penuell, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026 His expansive compositions were influenced by Pierre Bonnard and Matisse as well as by American folk art. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compositions
  1. works
  2. articles
  3. layouts
  4. essays
  5. pieces
  6. papers
  7. designs
  8. stories
Noun
  • At the same time, her project explored AI as a potential coordination technology for building ethically sourced vocal datasets for sharing creative works, and those ideas were then discussed by the British government and the EU.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The collection is stand out; the Hedreens were keen on mixing contemporary art with Old Masters, often hanging works made centuries apart alongside one another.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of works
Noun
  • The New York Times has a paywall for its articles, but ChatGPT can evade paying for a subscription.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2026
  • During the month before her departure, Wong contracted with the New York Herald Tribune to write a series of articles about her journey through China.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of articles
Noun
  • Autumn Ring will return in December for the first time since GT6, and interestingly, it’ll be offered with two layouts.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Mini Domy The Brda has lots of options available, including different interior layouts, an optional deck area, and the ability to swap out the steps for an indoor spiral staircase.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of layouts
Noun
  • One professor may decide that students should write their essays in a blue book in class, while another may ask them to use an AI tool and audit every step of this work.
    — Sian Leah Beilock, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Reading Ascherson’s finest essays today, so many of them on the big European personalities—de Gaulle, Brandt, Thatcher—is still invigorating, even for those of us too young to remember the fall of the Berlin Wall.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of essays
Noun
  • These new pieces strike other satellites and rockets, generating even more debris faster than atmospheric drag can remove it.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • As for finishing touches to her school drop-off style, Middleton added jewelry pieces and footwear that augmented the refined approach to Tuesday’s look.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of pieces
Noun
  • The study was published on ChinaXiv, a platform for scientific papers that have not yet undergone peer review.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Her papers at Smith College now occupy a hundred and six feet of shelf space.
    — Emma Watson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of papers
Noun
  • Household furnishings like clocks and bedspreads sported his designs.
    — BETH J. HARPAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The two materials are intended to serve different battery manufacturing requirements as energy storage systems become larger and battery designs evolve.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of designs
Noun
  • Little ones can color, solve puzzles, read stories, and more in this booklet.
    — Anja Webb, Parents, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Marrs Barron said there were many heartfelt stories of neighbors helping neighbors and municipalities helping each other when equipment broke down, with others bringing ice and water for workers at the compost sites.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of stories

Browse Nearby Words

composition
compositions
compos mentis
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Cite this Entry

“Compositions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compositions. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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