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.

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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 While the subject matter shifted from bank robberies to art heists, the essence of the character as an effortlessly cool, independent wealthy titan of industry who stole for the thrill of it remained the same. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 29 July 2026 But given the profundity of her subject matter and the near-universal awe her art inspires, perhaps this sense of futility gestures at the incomprehensible, even transcendent aura around Petviashvili’s works. — The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 28 July 2026 The subject matter feels woefully modern, culminating in Brian trying to convince a literal mob of his progressive credentials. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 Tuck is focusing on wall paintings the middle class had inside smaller houses and how the subject matter differed from murals inside elite homes. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for subject matter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter

Noun

In a memo sent to team presidents, general managers and coaches Friday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert advised the league’s leaders on their approach to the topic of transgender participation in women’s sports.

— Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Dozens of high-quality studies encompassing data from millions of children worldwide have already been carried out on the topic and have consistently found no link between childhood vaccines and autism.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of topic

Noun

Gastélum posted similar content on his Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube accounts, which together had more than 1 million followers.

— Rey Rodríguez, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Features like autoplay, infinite scroll and algorithmic content recommendations have been the prime targets of legal arguments that social media platforms are designed to be addictive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of content

Noun

The underlying theme here is that as AI implementation becomes more widespread, and as the technology keeps getting better, transparency, trust, and credibility are of the utmost importance.

— Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
The theme here is Chicago’s elite defense and the organization’s confidence in its ability to look beyond the surface-level statistics.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of theme

Noun

Pick one subject completely unrelated to your job and go deep on it for seven days—architecture, sailing, birdwatching, negotiation, astronomy, anything.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
In each, though, Withers played a riff on masculinity, and while the films took different approaches to the subject, both cast him as a football star with a complicated relationship to the sport.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of subject

Noun

Although not pictured in the Niccolini-Cowper, the motif was a favorite of the artist’s and could be seen in several works on paper in the Met exhibition, such as the Cartoon for the Tempi Madonna, ca.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
Upstairs, one bedroom is papered in a pretty Molly Mahon print, the other—tucked under the thatch—is simpler, with creamy tones and an antique tulip-motif kilim.

— Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of motif

Noun

Others say such administrative matters won’t lessen the career impact a Howard diploma can have.

— Matt Brown, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
There was our American citizenship—India, thanks to a post-colonial suspicion of divided loyalties, does not allow dual citizenship—but also the matter of our parents.

— Karan Mahajan, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of matter

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subjectivity

subject matter

subject matters

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Style

“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of subject matter

noun

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