as in manifestation
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality)
a statue that is often cited as an objectification of the ancient Greeks' notion of beauty
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Recent Examples of objectification
Depicting the pop star on her knees in a dog-like pose while her hair is presumably being pulled by a male, the cover caused a stir on social media for what many felt looked like objectification.
—
Lina Lecaro, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Exploring the misogyny of beauty pageants and its targeting of transwomen and the ongoing objectification of women, the contestants each called to the stage, presented by a very Vincent Price-seeming host representing the patriarchy.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
To others, a symbol of degradation and objectification.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Instead one was woken into an eternal godlike vigilance, as though the experience of objectification had in the end borne the fruit of objectivity.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Bringing nuance to our understanding of Asian fetishization, Yu unveils not only her victimization but her participation and, ultimately, her healing and empowerment from the brutality of objectification.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Lina Lecaro, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Exploring the misogyny of beauty pageants and its targeting of transwomen and the ongoing objectification of women, the contestants each called to the stage, presented by a very Vincent Price-seeming host representing the patriarchy.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
To others, a symbol of degradation and objectification.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Instead one was woken into an eternal godlike vigilance, as though the experience of objectification had in the end borne the fruit of objectivity.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Bringing nuance to our understanding of Asian fetishization, Yu unveils not only her victimization but her participation and, ultimately, her healing and empowerment from the brutality of objectification.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for objectification
Noun
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Despite the backaches, headaches, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, sweating and various other physical manifestations from Clarke’s manifestation of the Murdaugh family patriarch, Jason was never going to actually catch up to Alex on the scale.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
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Much of the fan speculation and manifestation surrounding KATSEYE’s Grammy chances centered on the Best New Artist category.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In places like Kemusuk, a village near Yogyakarta where he was born, his image is everywhere – from museum memorabilia celebrating his life to the souvenir T-shirts with his smiling face.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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In this image, Johns sits on a table littered with liquor bottles.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Objectification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/objectification. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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