as in term
a way of saying something that is particular to the present day; a modern speech form
modernisms like "blog" and "life hack"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of modernism
Inspired by eras and aspects of architecture—from Art Deco to South American modernism—each piece features a subtle pattern that can be a statement in one room, or a subtle backdrop in another.
—
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
The style is very much 1960s modernism, with a disjunct vocal line that emphasizes the character’s distress but nonspecialist audiences might struggle with.
—Michael Zwiebach, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
More to Explore In this environment, some activists and intellectuals adopted bikes as part of a resistance to car-centric capitalist modernism.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026
Additionally, young architects in particular felt that modernism represented little more than an aesthetic language, and sought to create structures rooted in functionalism and monumental expression.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modernism
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
The style is very much 1960s modernism, with a disjunct vocal line that emphasizes the character’s distress but nonspecialist audiences might struggle with.
—Michael Zwiebach, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
More to Explore In this environment, some activists and intellectuals adopted bikes as part of a resistance to car-centric capitalist modernism.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026
Additionally, young architects in particular felt that modernism represented little more than an aesthetic language, and sought to create structures rooted in functionalism and monumental expression.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modernism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modernism
Noun
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Jewish believers have had to come to terms with the inarguable truth that the story of the Hebrew enslavement, flight, and deliverance from Egypt is almost entirely mythical.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The breakdown in talks now putting the fragile temporary two-week truce agreed upon late Tuesday to the test, with differences in those agreed upon terms emerging throughout the week.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Are these neologisms diagnosing modern phenomena or illuminating preëxisting cultural realities?—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
2 Dec. 2025
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These neologisms weren’t just clever.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The exhibit’s title is derived from a Spanish colloquialism.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Leo said in English, using a phrase often understood as referring to American exceptionalism.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
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One of them, named James Rogers, used the same phrases and nicknames Ryan had used in the past and knew information about her and her whereabouts at the time.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Discussing why people use euphemisms online prepares children to pause and ask questions when unfamiliar terms appear.—
Sharlette A. Kellum,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
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When Oklahoma missed out on the NCAA Tournament, AD Roger Denny announced that coach Porter Moser was staying and offered up one of the great euphemisms of this era.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Her liberty cap bears stars and stripes, at once a symbol of our burgeoning Nation and a reference to early American coinage.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
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This book is a deeply scholarly, policy-relevant history of money, from the advent of coinage, paper currency, and bank money in ancient, medieval, and early modern times to the stablecoins and central bank digital currencies of today and tomorrow.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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At least that was my expression.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Elder most recently served as vice president of brand strategy and creative expression at Purpose Brands, whose portfolio includes Anytime Fitness, Waxing the City, The Bar Method, Stronger U and Basecamp Fitness.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Which brings us to the ménage à trois — for some things, only a French loanword will do — between Hayley, Yasmin, and Henry, which exists at the opposite end of the boundary-setting spectrum.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
26 Jan. 2026
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For instance, people, a French loanword, may be spelled peple, pepill, poeple, or poepul.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modernism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modernism. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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