as in liberal
a person with very modern ideas
a time when Paris was the center of the universe for modernists in the art world
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Recent Examples of modernist
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
The late Cuban modernist painter, whose boundary-blurring art explored his complex Afro-Asian Latino heritage, is currently having his largest-ever American retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026
Harkening back to the out-of-this-world aesthetics that won them broad acclaim for Poor Things, the commercial opens on a crumbling modernist edifice on a rocky outcrop in a stormy ocean.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Better just to glimpse, out of the corner of his eye, the obelisk with its modernist air rising up in the center of the plaza and only get a fleeting, distant view of the wind rose at its base.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Maybourne tapped French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte to transform a vacant property into a modernist hangout filled with head-turning artwork.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, AFAR Media, 20 Jan. 2026
In April, a modernist Westchester home built for a Rockefeller hit the market for $12 million.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026
The Modulightor is not one of those pristine modernist residences that lack any signs that a human might have resided there.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 13 Jan. 2026
Notably, Hotel Cambridge was designed by the Hungarian Brazilian architect Francisco Beck as a luxurious seventeen-story tower that traded his early Art Deco style for a Brazilian mid-century modernist aesthetic of clean lines, elegant curves, and modular windows.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Giles Hudson, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
While the enclave is dominated by multiple 'palace' hotels, a distinction the French government awards only to the most exceptional stays, the new Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin stood out for its design-forward take on the valley’s modernist chalets.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
Along with its affordable and modernist home furnishings, IKEA is known for its sprawling showrooms and in-store restaurant that serves everything from soft serve to Swedish meatballs.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan of Studio MK27 is renowned for his modernist residences, which typically feature clean lines, natural materials, and seamless connections between the indoors and outdoors.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2026
Across its glossy pages are earthy modernist homes across different Pacific regions, from Big Sur to New Zealand.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 18 Feb. 2026
Perhaps the most famous home in Los Angeles, The Stahl House, designed by modernist master Pierre Koenig, has inspired countless architecture nerds.
—Hadley Meares, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
This is not to deny the critical potential of modernist experimentation.
—Michael Cowan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Mulier ultimately heated up the house to the boiling point with original, inventive designs, giving an experimental, modernist spin to Alaïa’s legacy of empowering, feminine and sculptural fashions.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Utzon won the bid to design the Opera House in 1957, and his groundbreaking modernist creation is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
The late Cuban modernist painter, whose boundary-blurring art explored his complex Afro-Asian Latino heritage, is currently having his largest-ever American retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026
Harkening back to the out-of-this-world aesthetics that won them broad acclaim for Poor Things, the commercial opens on a crumbling modernist edifice on a rocky outcrop in a stormy ocean.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Better just to glimpse, out of the corner of his eye, the obelisk with its modernist air rising up in the center of the plaza and only get a fleeting, distant view of the wind rose at its base.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Maybourne tapped French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte to transform a vacant property into a modernist hangout filled with head-turning artwork.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, AFAR Media, 20 Jan. 2026
In April, a modernist Westchester home built for a Rockefeller hit the market for $12 million.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026
The Modulightor is not one of those pristine modernist residences that lack any signs that a human might have resided there.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 13 Jan. 2026
Notably, Hotel Cambridge was designed by the Hungarian Brazilian architect Francisco Beck as a luxurious seventeen-story tower that traded his early Art Deco style for a Brazilian mid-century modernist aesthetic of clean lines, elegant curves, and modular windows.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
It has been praised by preservationists as an irreplaceable example of modernist architecture.
—Giles Hudson, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
While the enclave is dominated by multiple 'palace' hotels, a distinction the French government awards only to the most exceptional stays, the new Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin stood out for its design-forward take on the valley’s modernist chalets.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
Along with its affordable and modernist home furnishings, IKEA is known for its sprawling showrooms and in-store restaurant that serves everything from soft serve to Swedish meatballs.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan of Studio MK27 is renowned for his modernist residences, which typically feature clean lines, natural materials, and seamless connections between the indoors and outdoors.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2026
Across its glossy pages are earthy modernist homes across different Pacific regions, from Big Sur to New Zealand.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 18 Feb. 2026
Perhaps the most famous home in Los Angeles, The Stahl House, designed by modernist master Pierre Koenig, has inspired countless architecture nerds.
—Hadley Meares, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
This is not to deny the critical potential of modernist experimentation.
—Michael Cowan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Mulier ultimately heated up the house to the boiling point with original, inventive designs, giving an experimental, modernist spin to Alaïa’s legacy of empowering, feminine and sculptural fashions.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modernist
Noun
-
Merz is a conservative Atlanticist and unapologetic economic liberal.—
Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
-
This year, the party has another chance to try something other than nominating a conventional liberal who loses and then gets to run an NGO.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This level of coordination effectively marries ancient Chinese martial arts with modern precision engineering.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Analysts say the result could mean more stability for modern day Thailand, which has had three prime ministers in as many years and a 20-year cycle of military coups, violent street protests and paralyzing political instability.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Wonder women in American history Who were most transformative female organizers, creators, activists, innovators, revolutionaries and trailblazers in American history?—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
With that mental reframing, the American (and then French and other) revolutionaries changed not just their own country, but the world.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This jaw-dropping arts center also hosts plays, dance performances, classical concerts, and contemporary music gigs by major names such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Björk, New Order, Paul Weller, and Lorde.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Priced north of £30 for accessories, up to the mid-hundreds range for dresses, the label occupies an accessible premium space within the contemporary designer market.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Others suggested the 50-foot steel sculpture was a bird, a horse, a Viking ship, a baboon or a modernistic representation of Picasso’s dog.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Along with the astonishing views of the Uinta Mountains, the Aspen Camp neighborhood inside the gates of the exclusive Promontory community captivates with a collection of ultramodern homes designed to immerse residents in Park City’s rugged beauty.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Inspired by a pile of cardboard and constructed using the same material, Frank Gehry’s luxe Wiggle chair functions as the perfect compact statement piece that will slot right in next to a library bookshelf or stand on its on in an ultramodern space.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Inspired by the 1989 horror-comedy film of the same name and set in present-day suburbia, The ‘Burbs follows a young couple who have reluctantly relocated to the husband’s childhood home.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
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Set primarily in present-day Wonderland, the new movie begins with Red and Chloe hiding the time-traveling pocket watch inside the Royal Vault, believing that no one else will find it.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The current Air Force One airplanes entered service in 1990.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The rink disparity’s roots go back to well before the countries’ current allocation of resources.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Modernist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modernist. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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