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
But Cézanne’s newfangled fracturing of old-fashioned still lifes and landscapes became the very motor of modernism.
—
J. S. Marcus, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
Widely regarded as one of the country’s finest examples of mid-century modernism, the Miller House was completed in 1957.
—Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026
Having co-founded Random House in 1927 Cerf was largely responsible for bringing modernism to the masses, putting the likes of Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, and William Faulkner in front of millions of American readers.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Its works not only suggest strategies for housing the destitute but also convey an understanding of the forces (authoritarianism, corporate greed, systemic racism, and the co-option of modernism) that have conspired against São Paulo—and Los Angeles.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modernism
J. S. Marcus, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
Widely regarded as one of the country’s finest examples of mid-century modernism, the Miller House was completed in 1957.
—Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026
Having co-founded Random House in 1927 Cerf was largely responsible for bringing modernism to the masses, putting the likes of Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, and William Faulkner in front of millions of American readers.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Its works not only suggest strategies for housing the destitute but also convey an understanding of the forces (authoritarianism, corporate greed, systemic racism, and the co-option of modernism) that have conspired against São Paulo—and Los Angeles.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modernism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modernism
Noun
-
In the wake of the announcement in October, The Economist’s board asked top editor Zanny Minton Beddoes to stay on for another two years, an unexpected extension of the publication’s informal ten-year term rule.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
In terms of safety features, the ZX135-7EB features an Aerial Angle camera system that provides a 270-degree bird’s-eye view of the working area.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Are these neologisms diagnosing modern phenomena or illuminating preëxisting cultural realities?—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
2 Dec. 2025
-
These neologisms weren’t just clever.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The show chugged along nonetheless, gradually attracting fans who adored its stark cinematography and weirdo colloquialisms.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
To borrow a popular phrase from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Galaxy survived and advanced.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Some ignited fireworks and others spoke from a bullhorn or spray-painted anti-ICE phrases on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 26,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Early critics have called it ‘compassionate,’ which might sound like a euphemism for treacly or didactic.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Some of the suspects try to minimize their actions with euphemisms or paraphrases; others do so with explanations that the prosecutors find utterly implausible.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Wednesday’s unveiling follows several splashy moves around U.S. coinage in recent months.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Krejci’s expression as referee Tom Kirk brandished the red card looked like one of genuine bewilderment.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
This new expression starts out as regular Woodford bourbon, which is aged for about six to seven years in new charred oak barrels (as required by law for bourbon).—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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 1 Mar. 2026.
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