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modernism

noun

Definition of modernismnext
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

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 modernism The work includes some of the giants of 20th-century modernism, including Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti, Barbara Hepworth, Pablo Picasso, Bridget Riley and Andy Warhol. — Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026 Dadiba Pundole, who owns one of Mumbai’s oldest commercial art spaces, Pundole Art Gallery, and is recognized for his expertise on Indian modernism, believes that a lack of scholarship has led to a reliance on word of mouth. — News Desk, Artforum, 20 Aug. 2026 Architect William Levy Alexander designed the three-bedroom home that stands as an exemplar of early 20th-century modernism. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2026 While Belden’s former home is Victorian style, in the late 1950s a wing was put on that is modernism. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for modernism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modernism
  1. term
  2. neologism
  3. colloquialism
  4. phrase
  5. euphemism
  6. coinage
  7. expression
  8. loanword
Noun
  • Under the terms of the agreement, the reports will be kept confidential by the man and his attorneys.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The effort to create a national voter list is among numerous steps Trump has taken during his second term to try to overhaul the way elections are run.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of term
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
Definition of neologism
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
Definition of colloquialism
Noun
  • In it, David recognized phrases reminiscent of his brother’s writing style and contacted investigators about his suspicion that Ted may be the culprit.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The latter—which perhaps pulls inspiration from the early addiction recovery phrase used to describe the honeymoon period of sobriety—details taking ownership of letting a romantic partner down.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of phrase
Noun
  • Orwell was exploring the roles that euphemism, tangled syntax, and dying metaphors can play in obscuring the true intentions of a totalitarian state.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This is nothing more than a euphemism for encouraging less citizen input and involvement in determining city policies and spending priorities.
    — Joseph Landers, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of euphemism
Noun
  • Within a year of its onset, the economic depression practically eradicated the need to mint any new coinage for months.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As part of the yearlong celebration, the Mint is introducing one-year-only changes to familiar American coinage, including the circulating dime, quarter, and half dollar.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of coinage
Noun
  • The core collection of the Glenlivet consists of a few age-statement expressions (12, 14, and 15-year-old), as well as some NAS whiskies.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The Paris flagship is one of the first expressions of that more cohesive brand identity.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of expression
Noun
  • The English language comprises a hodgepodge of words borrowed from all over the globe, and a wide variety of those loanwords hail from the languages of India.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of loanword

Browse Nearby Words

modern
modernism
modernisms
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Cite this Entry

“Modernism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modernism. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on modernism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about modernism

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