1
as in theme
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motif
This year’s design is a soft, baby blue gown — paying homage to the color of the island’s original 1895 flag— embroidered with subtle motifs, including yellow taxi cabs, the Brooklyn bridge and the Puerto Rico’s national flower, the flor de maga.
—
CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Scallops have become one of decorating's most enduring motifs, and this wastebasket embraces them wholeheartedly.
—Jaha Nailah Avery, Architectural Digest, 15 June 2026
Styled in a flowy yet body-hugging mini dress and finished with zebra-print gloves, this guest turns a classic motif into a full-on moment.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 14 June 2026
Animal footprints in the sand might become a motif repeated across a body of work.
—Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motif
CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Scallops have become one of decorating's most enduring motifs, and this wastebasket embraces them wholeheartedly.
—Jaha Nailah Avery, Architectural Digest, 15 June 2026
Styled in a flowy yet body-hugging mini dress and finished with zebra-print gloves, this guest turns a classic motif into a full-on moment.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 14 June 2026
Animal footprints in the sand might become a motif repeated across a body of work.
—Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motif
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motif
Noun
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The teams have to write out their mixtape lists on a dry-erase board styled like a cassette, with the night shift guessing the day shift’s themes based on their song titles.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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Various of their theme weeks and packages (especially, Summer or Winter Discovery) are highly recommended and sought after for this same reason.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Disqualifying factors for Safe Street workers include a history of arson, rape or crimes involving children; active warrants, probation or parole violations; or any patterns of criminal conduct that suggest the person is an active risk to public safety, Mavronis said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The Sun, as has been their pattern, stayed in the game, and Saniya Rivers’ floater at the end left the Sun trailing by one.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Similarly, nonfiction about topics completely outside your everyday experience is also beneficial, improving your ability to focus and think critically about problems from multiple perspectives.—
Esther K. Choy,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Some of the most successful faceless channels are centered around narrow educational topics.—
Andrew Zucker,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Britain has consulted teachers, parents and young people on new restrictions, including a possible ban for under-16s, as well as curfews, app time limits and curbs on what the government has described as addictive design features.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Textured walls and ceilings were also a flop with design pros in the kitchen.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
14 June 2026
Noun
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In a statement texted to the Star-Telegram before the phone call, Parker’s spokesperson said the mayor stressed that neither her husband’s firm nor his profession has any bearing on her decisions regarding matters before the City Council.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
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And while the White House got to work immediately on the Knicks visiting, the Seahawks visit is apparently another matter.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Iran’s diplomatic delegation to the United Nations did not immediately return a request for comment, and the White House did not immediately reply to questions from CNN.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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As is, the agreement does not resolve the question of Iran’s nuclear program, according to Aragchi, who said nuclear matters would be negotiated further down the line.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motif.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motif. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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