motifs

noun

plural of motif
1
as in themes
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
2
as in patterns
a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) the fabric for the upholstery features a scallop shell motif

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 motifs The church’s nave is decorated in the incredibly intricate Manueline style – motifs that pay tribute to the sea trade that made Portugal rich. — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 His designs were distinguished by adventurous use of color and unconventional materials, often incorporating motifs drawn from nature, animals and the fantastical. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Leaning even more into the vintage patterns and textiles that shaped her inaugural capsule, the designer particularly emphasized florals applied in repeating motifs, geometric stripes, plaids, and checkered prints. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2026 Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara features open-heart motifs set with diamonds and 19 baroque pearls beneath. — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 A lot of the governing dynamics and motifs here are to put the audience in Kris’s point of view and welcome them through this portal into Billy’s world. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 Chrome finishes, raised gel details, celestial motifs, and tortoiseshell accents give the timeless look a thoroughly modern update. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026 And the motifs that dominated front pages and became ubiquitous on social media weren’t so much what happened on the court or pitch but how fans came together away from the stadium. — Leo MacLehose, Sportico.com, 31 July 2026 Their lives were recorded in the form of hagiographies, stories of the saints, often ornamented with folkloric motifs, focusing on marvelous adventures and miraculous doings. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motifs
  1. themes
  2. patterns
  3. topics
  4. figures
  5. matters
  6. designs
  7. subjects
  8. ornaments
Noun
  • For Garfield, the story’s themes of nature, imagination and community feel especially timely as technology increasingly shapes everyday life.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The cinematic drama is an exploration of violence, body and identity – themes that Lenz has also touched on in his previous work.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of themes
Noun
  • Google has reportedly purchased Spirit’s trove of operational and customer data as part of the carrier’s bankruptcy wind-down, scooping up years of booking patterns, pricing behavior, and customer service logs to help train its AI.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of forcing a single answer, the system engages in dialogue, refining recommendations based on preferences, context and behavioral patterns.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of patterns
Noun
  • Wildfire prevention and evacuation planning are among the hottest topics at this time of year.
    — Chuck Page, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • One of the topics tackled was how to reach next-generation Disney fans with next-generation content formats to keep the company’s many franchises relevant to Gen Alpha and beyond.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of topics
Noun
  • Team-mate Mbaye has also been discussed this summer but senior Liverpool figures insist their interest has only been exploratory to date and strongly dismissed suggestions that personal terms have already been agreed with the 18-year-old.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The past year has seen the first prosecutions of soldiers and military figures using classified knowledge to make money on these prediction markets.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of figures
Noun
  • Emergency responders were expected to be busy dealing with urgent matters for 36 hours as the storm passed Hawaii, with damage assessment expected to begin on Monday, said the governor.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • What matters is finding your people, in whatever form that takes, whether that’s online, in a support group, in one friend who really sees you, or in the stories of strangers who made it through something similar.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of matters
Noun
  • On runway day, Naheim and Bryan have totally pivoted from their original designs.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
  • With a first Sloane Square flagship and The Brooklyn extending one of its bestselling designs, the brand is entering its next stage of growth.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of designs
Noun
  • The defendants contend that allowing a defamation case to proceed on that basis could open the door for documentary subjects who are unhappy with their portrayal to challenge filmmakers' editorial decisions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Working in both color and in black and white, his subjects — sometimes family, sometimes random people, sometimes buildings or streets with nobody in sight — can have the warmth and intensity of his poems.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of subjects
Noun
  • The first offerings will include pieces inspired by Byzantine artworks including imperial medallions, architectural ornaments, and statuary.
    — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The giant, 10,000-pound mammals provided meat, fat, hide, and bones for building structures, as well as ivory for tools, art, and ornaments.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 2026
Definition of ornaments

Browse Nearby Words

motif
motifs
motile
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Cite this Entry

“Motifs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motifs. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of motifs for Spanish Speakers

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