as in obsession
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned
the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age
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Recent Examples of preoccupation
The shows share a preoccupation with the heroic potential of oddballs and burnouts, one that has kept Horses galloping for five seasons (and two more are in the works).
—
Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
The scene illuminates the story’s preoccupation not with the post-#MeToo world but with performance, hints of which can be found throughout the film.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Tracking macros can be time-consuming and may create unnecessary stress and preoccupation with food choices and calorie intake.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Oct. 2025
But these names, which signal both over-the-top satire and dramatization of extreme politics, are some of the small nods and Easter Eggs that Anderson includes in his script for One Battle After Another, which distill the preoccupations of novelist Thomas Pynchon.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
The scene illuminates the story’s preoccupation not with the post-#MeToo world but with performance, hints of which can be found throughout the film.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Tracking macros can be time-consuming and may create unnecessary stress and preoccupation with food choices and calorie intake.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Oct. 2025
But these names, which signal both over-the-top satire and dramatization of extreme politics, are some of the small nods and Easter Eggs that Anderson includes in his script for One Battle After Another, which distill the preoccupations of novelist Thomas Pynchon.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupation
Noun
-
There were no major returning actors or ongoing storylines, save for the Yautja’s somewhat inexplicable obsession with intergalactic trophy hunting, and most attempts to reboot the property failed to explain why this series should exist in the first place.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
-
What’s lingering beneath the surface — jealousy, passion, obsession — is brought to life.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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For a writer of a book that’s politically informed and deals with culture and history, this creates a big problem.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
That solves a lot of problems, a lot of ills of society.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupation. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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