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
Relevance
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
The 18-karat 5N gold, white ceramic and stainless steel design editions all have a signature deep-blue dial with a sunray finish and Little Prince motifs on the back of their cases.
—
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
To Add Insult to Injury • Some animal motifs that have been slowly building throughout the season get some emphasis here.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The covered patio design should have the same design motifs that are used throughout the interior, Tyreus suggests.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
The Phoenix Crown of the Druk Gyaltsuen (Dragon Queen) is made of silk brocade and adorned with phoenixes and other Buddhist motifs, Tatler Asia previously reported.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
The motifs are botanical, like flowers from a traveler’s notebook.
—Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
Lemann, like the talkative older ladies of her youth, clutches the motifs of her past like talismans.
—Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Its elegant style fits most bathroom motifs.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
From the soaring lobby atrium to the 510 rooms, the new design leans heavily on Peranakan motifs such as batik textiles and floral wallpaper.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
To Add Insult to Injury • Some animal motifs that have been slowly building throughout the season get some emphasis here.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The covered patio design should have the same design motifs that are used throughout the interior, Tyreus suggests.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
The Phoenix Crown of the Druk Gyaltsuen (Dragon Queen) is made of silk brocade and adorned with phoenixes and other Buddhist motifs, Tatler Asia previously reported.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
The motifs are botanical, like flowers from a traveler’s notebook.
—Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
Lemann, like the talkative older ladies of her youth, clutches the motifs of her past like talismans.
—Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Its elegant style fits most bathroom motifs.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
From the soaring lobby atrium to the 510 rooms, the new design leans heavily on Peranakan motifs such as batik textiles and floral wallpaper.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motifs
Noun
-
The effort to subtly incorporate climate themes into games echoes similar initiatives in film and TV.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As usual, Bey’s lyrics touch on heavy themes without pressing on them.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As Mercury joins Saturn in Aries in your 12th house, private thoughts and internal patterns come into focus.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Even if each copy is unknown, the collection as a whole follows patterns that can be exploited.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Iowa, an appellate court ruled earlier this month that the state can enforce a law that limits teachers from talking about LGBTQ+ topics with students in kindergarten through the sixth grade and bans some books.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Privacy and ethics while matching data with locations were hot topics during Friday’s panel discussion on GIS technology and uses.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While many departures could be precautionary rather than permanent, the figures point to a rupture in what had been a steady migration from Britain to the Gulf.—
Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The recent figures don’t represent a retreat for the sector; on the contrary, 2025 was a record year for climate fund closes.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What does rankle, however, is that that by glossing over such matters, the final film has been mostly stripped of any humanity, good and bad.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Fed officials are not entitled to the same special deference in their stewardship of public monies…or in bank regulatory and supervisory policy…or in areas affecting international finance, among other matters.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His plans and designs preserved the Mansion by dividing it into four condominium units.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The fuel maintains the same external geometry as existing 19-element and 37-element fuel designs, which allows it to be integrated into current CANDU and pressurized heavy-water reactor systems without hardware or core design modifications.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Students would take classes on subjects such as the New Testament, advanced geometry, and rhetoric, and earn a liberal-arts degree in Catholic studies.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But Michaels, in stark contrast to most of Neville’s previous subjects, is alive.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bottles, glass ornaments, scraps of lace and strings of lights hang from branches on the ceiling, while upstage, a cave-like wall frames a round piece of fabric that sometimes evokes a pond and also becomes a scrim for silhouetted scenes.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The center houses hundreds of manufacturers that contribute to the country's vast production of the world's artificial trees, tinsel, ornaments and other decorations.—
Eunice Yoon,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motifs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motifs. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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