SUBJECT MATTER Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

subject matter

noun

Definition of subject matter

as in topic

the information or ideas that are discussed or dealt with in a book, movie, etc.; what something is about I found the film's subject matter to be quite disturbing. The magazine's editors care more about style than about subject matter. She disapproves of the artist's choice of subject matter.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of subject matter The filmmaker is no stranger to controversial subject matter, having made films about Enron, Vladimir Putin, and the Church of Scientology in the past. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2026 Conley, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, dismissed the case without prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and granted the defendants’ sanctions motions. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026 The Cold War playbook The senior NASA official, however, argued that scholarships may not be sufficient, and a dedicated institution would showcase how vital subject matter expertise has become. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 The painting’s joyful casualness belies its subject matter, clues to which can be found in the coyote on one of the men’s shirts and in the work’s title, Uncle’s Crossing (2022). — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subject matter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter

Noun

Such poetic license offers little new insight into a topic that has already been picked over for two decades, but it might be forgiven were Hansen as easily dramatized as he is made fun of.

— Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
At the University of Miami, the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science is spearheading sea-rise research and has even offered an undergraduate course devoted to the topic.

— Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of topic

Noun

But a homeowner with a smart thermostat, a small business with a demand response contract and an EV owner deciding between charging rates each need different content, delivered at different moments.

— Amber Mullaney, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The effort will also use some now-widespread techniques in political campaigns, such as geotargeting online ads and partnerships with local content creators for audiences who mainly receive their news online.

— Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of content

Noun

The amount of business done between Premier League clubs quickly emerged as the defining theme of this summer’s transfer window.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
At San Sebastián, the film is also in contention for the Sebastiane Award, an honor for films exploring LGBTQIA+ themes and experiences.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of theme

Noun

League sources in this story spoke on a condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the subject publicly.

— Law Murray, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Apple reportedly plans to pitch the iPhone Ultra as a device that's more beneficial for web browsing, framing subjects with a gigantic viewfinder, and most importantly, watching video.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of subject

Noun

Venus Williams x Crate & Kids Collection From tennis-ball motifs to her favorite lavender-and-green color combo, Williams’ collection with Crate & Kids is both playful and can easily transition alongside kids and their ever-changing styles.

— Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2026
The obsessive neat freak beneath the easygoing surface of the virtue-signaling feminist ally might have made an amusing motif if it were ever referenced again.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of motif

Noun

For Frankfurt, as for Murdoch, the work of being human involves interrogating the motives and assumptions that guide our actions, asking whether our desires are truly desirable.

— Meghan O’Gieblyn, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
The victim’s name and details of a motive have not been released.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of motive

Noun

The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, and Canada’s Competition Bureau have worked together for decades on cross-border antitrust matters, including merger reviews and investigations into potential anticompetitive conduct.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
Gutman declined comment on the matter through a CBS News representative.

— Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of matter

Browse Nearby Words

subjectivity

subject matter

subject matters

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of subject matter

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on subject matter

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

facsimile

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes