Synonyms of motifs

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

• themes
• topics
• matters
• subjects
• questions
• contents
• motives
• ideas
• essences
• issues
• problems
• purposes
• substances
• hearts
• considerations
• subject matters
• cores
• counts
• staples
• masses
• bases
• nuclei
• fundamentals
• kernels
• bodies
• points
• nets
• pivots
• burdens
• essentials
• talking points
• sums
• generalities
• arguments
• mains
• debates
• centerpieces
• bulks
• affairs
• piths
• essentialities
• grists
• cruxes
• bottoms
• nubs
• keynotes
• gists
• marrows
• purports
• nubbins
• quicks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• excursions
• parentheses
• tangents
• digressions
• asides
• interjections

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

• patterns
• figures
• designs
• ornaments
• motives
• decorations
• adornments
• devices
• schemes
• embellishments
• trims
• frills
• garnishes
• caparisons

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of motifs

Go literal with scholastic motifs, or keep it subtle with bright colors and minimalist designs. — Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 4 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

The influence and emblem of basketball was everywhere, whether through stitched motifs, graphic details, or the written across letterman jackets, cargo pants, and t-shirts. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Bioinformatic analysis identified 19 candidate peptide motifs worth further study. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026

Mako Watanabe's Sushi Wars launches Nihonbashi into outer space—a fever dream of sushi motifs and holographic wallpaper, light ricocheting off foil and mirrors. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026

For the occasion, Queen Letizia chose a midi dress from the label featuring a geometric pastel pattern that resembles a minimalist, avant-garde take on floral motifs. — Katharina Fuchs, Vogue, 27 July 2026

Today, Tskaltubo's grand architecture stands as a testament to its faded glory—the sweeping arcs, decorative motifs, and faded murals all reminiscent of its once poignant beauty. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026