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
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Recent Examples of motifs
Despite the epic length, Kinds of Kindness ultimately comes across as a lark, riffing on pet motifs with the help of a game ensemble on triple duty.
—
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Throughout that time, Frédéric Boucheron was fascinated by the natural world — a passion Poulit‑Duquesne and Choisne continue today, visible in collections featuring feather motifs, fluid forms and other designs.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Swifties wearing friendship bracelets or Lambs reviving Mariah [Carey]’s ’90s butterfly motifs aren’t waiting for approval from [magazines] anymore…they’re creating the trends in real time.
—Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
In Ragtime‘s most impressive achievement, those three groups (and their musical motifs and dance choreographies) are introduced in the astonishing opening number, separately at first but then blending together as if to illustrate the cauldron that was and is New York City.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
But these motifs—doglike tricksters, a figure visible on the moon, a man who performs difficult tasks to win a bride—are all frustratingly generic.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Scattered across the upper are enamel pins that flip Chanel’s smiley-face and yin-yang motifs through Vans’ own lens, while leather accents and metal hardware elevate the finish.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
From tailored barn jackets to silk neck scarves, motifs of countryside living found their stride on the fall 2025 runways.
—Minty Mellon, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
Advances in technology mean the motifs are even more vivid and precise this time around, Vuitton said.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Throughout that time, Frédéric Boucheron was fascinated by the natural world — a passion Poulit‑Duquesne and Choisne continue today, visible in collections featuring feather motifs, fluid forms and other designs.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Swifties wearing friendship bracelets or Lambs reviving Mariah [Carey]’s ’90s butterfly motifs aren’t waiting for approval from [magazines] anymore…they’re creating the trends in real time.
—Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
In Ragtime‘s most impressive achievement, those three groups (and their musical motifs and dance choreographies) are introduced in the astonishing opening number, separately at first but then blending together as if to illustrate the cauldron that was and is New York City.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
But these motifs—doglike tricksters, a figure visible on the moon, a man who performs difficult tasks to win a bride—are all frustratingly generic.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Scattered across the upper are enamel pins that flip Chanel’s smiley-face and yin-yang motifs through Vans’ own lens, while leather accents and metal hardware elevate the finish.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
From tailored barn jackets to silk neck scarves, motifs of countryside living found their stride on the fall 2025 runways.
—Minty Mellon, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
Advances in technology mean the motifs are even more vivid and precise this time around, Vuitton said.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motifs
Noun
-
And next year, the party gets even bigger with new themes every season of the event.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Early in the year, the department-run Foreign Service Institute eliminated over 1,200 courses with DEI and other diversity themes.—
Paul du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sometimes, a slice of the weather patterns aloft can act to focus heavy rainfall over a region, Roth said.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The store houses a Scarf Bar offering designs in cashmere and silk twill in a variety of colors, patterns, textures and more than 30 shades of Burberry check.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The chat was part of a day-long event, Hollywood & Mind, which focused on an array of topics at the intersection of music, the music industry and mental health.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Viewership for the postseason thus far has reached levels unseen since 2017, according to figures released by MLB on Wednesday.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The site has housed many historical figures over the years, from Queen Margaret to Mary, Queen of Scots.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Because the integrity of league competitions, built around the simple principle of teams playing each other at home and away, matters.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Dale Ellis covers the federal courthouse beat for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, reporting on criminal and civil matters that impact Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In recent years, there's been a big push to reduce space debris by setting up tracking systems, improving spacecraft and launcher designs, and setting up protocols so that defunct satellites are properly decommissioned before being orbited or sent into a graveyard orbit.—
David Szondy
October 26,
New Atlas,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Power suiting, of course, continues to be a defining fall trend, enjoyed by everyone from Demi Moore in Saint Laurent and tailored Thom Browne to Julia Roberts in Versace and Victoria Beckham in her own designs.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The macroscopes featured in the exhibit and companion book combine high-quality datasets, computational power, and data visualization techniques to provide a big-picture view of subjects that are often too large and too complex to comprehend from an individual perspective.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Oct. 2025
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At the event, Vonn takes pictures with a group of former scholarship recipients who now serve as youth ambassadors; in that role, these young women talk to adolescent girls about subjects like self-confidence, body image, and emotional intelligence.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Normally, the family — which includes children Gage, 18; Mason, 20; and Sydney, 22 — celebrates Christmas with ornaments passed down from the children's grandparents.—
Angelika Ytuarte,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Trump has since added more portraits in more opulent and baroque frames, and added decorative ornaments in shiny gold (including wall finials, fireplace accents and a row of vessels where greenery used to be).—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motifs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motifs. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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