as in obsessions
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 preoccupations
This and other information about U2’s current projects and preoccupations is found in a 54-page revival of the group’s old fanzine, Propaganda, which is available digitally as well as in print in some record shops.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
That much of the internet saw Bad Bunny’s Grammys look as a harbinger for more violence is probably more of a projection of our own preoccupations and fears.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
The imagery of the song chimes with some of Bowie’s deepest spiritual preoccupations.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Protein preoccupations The protein obsession continued throughout 2025, spilling far beyond shakes and bars into everyday foods and drinks.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Only in some of its themes and preoccupations, and the fact that both have taken me years to write.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Still, Patino described a canyon between the preoccupations and paths of people like Bezos and Griffin and the people in attendance like himself.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
The lines between life and art, truth and fiction, get mighty blurry in Trier’s emotionally expansive, extremely wry film, though the family drama itself is just a spine on which to hang any number of other fixations and preoccupations.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 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
Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
That much of the internet saw Bad Bunny’s Grammys look as a harbinger for more violence is probably more of a projection of our own preoccupations and fears.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
The imagery of the song chimes with some of Bowie’s deepest spiritual preoccupations.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Protein preoccupations The protein obsession continued throughout 2025, spilling far beyond shakes and bars into everyday foods and drinks.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Only in some of its themes and preoccupations, and the fact that both have taken me years to write.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Still, Patino described a canyon between the preoccupations and paths of people like Bezos and Griffin and the people in attendance like himself.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
The lines between life and art, truth and fiction, get mighty blurry in Trier’s emotionally expansive, extremely wry film, though the family drama itself is just a spine on which to hang any number of other fixations and preoccupations.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupations
obsessions
Noun
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Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place!—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
25 Feb. 2026
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Yet our love/hate relationship with elitism and luxury remain one of our culture’s most paradoxical obsessions.—
Alexa Beck,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupations. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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