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 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 Aalto Works brings together 13 buildings and complexes associated with Alvar Aalto, Aino Marsio-Aalto, Elissa Aalto, and their collaborators, spanning more than half a century of Finnish modernism. — Bailey Berg, Forbes.com, 9 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
  • This government backing allows some borrowers to get better loan terms compared to traditional mortgages, including more flexible credit minimums and lower down payment requirements.
    — Dan Simms, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Trump is constitutionally barred from running for a third presidential term.
    — Josh Boak, Fortune, 5 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
  • Song lyrics, phrases, and stray words bob in and out like visitors stopping by for a last laugh or scare.
    — Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The lyrics coalesced slowly, with McCartney filling the incomplete sections with nonsense phrases.
    — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 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
  • To Michael Ouweleen, who currently serves as president of Cartoon Network, the biggest early opportunities for creative expression came in the form of graphics that aired between shows.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
  • For her, the possibilities extend beyond music itself, into film and theater and other forms of creative expression.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 10 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

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Cite this Entry

“Modernism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modernism. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on modernism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about modernism

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