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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Recent Examples of subject matter
As of now, while many subject matter experts have labeled the conflict unlawful in media spaces, some still remain split on the question, underscoring how complex that part of the comparison is beneath its lighthearted presentation.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Congressional clarification of subject matter eligibility would reduce unpredictability and provide clearer guardrails for courts and innovators alike.
—Laura Peter, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Posner clearly knows his subject matter.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Yet as deeply personal and dark as the subject matter can sometimes be, amid the horrors of today’s headlines, the album’s optimism is a welcome sound.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Congressional clarification of subject matter eligibility would reduce unpredictability and provide clearer guardrails for courts and innovators alike.
—Laura Peter, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Posner clearly knows his subject matter.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Yet as deeply personal and dark as the subject matter can sometimes be, amid the horrors of today’s headlines, the album’s optimism is a welcome sound.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
Noun
-
Choose a single topic or hobby to explore, then map a simple schedule for research or practice.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Research and polling suggests Latino voters prioritize cost-of-living issues — such as housing, wages and inflation — over immigration, a topic often emphasized in national messaging.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Any content produced using AI tools is reviewed by reporters and editors before publication in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Salway had the casket opened to verify its contents.—
Jennie Key,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The theme for the first live show was songs of faith, with each contestant choosing a performance to match.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The current exhibition at MAF highlights how his cinematic works functioned as experimental analyses of 20th-century America, exploring themes of consumerism, authoritarianism, and the existential threat of nuclear war.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If his subject has shifted, his methods have lagged.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Before infants were enrolled in the AL16 study, their parents or guardians had to sign consent forms disclosing, among other things, the risks that clinical trial subjects would face.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Singapore Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the world's great urban green spaces, inspired everything from the color palette (soft greens, aqua blues, natural wood tones) to the botanical motifs that appear in textiles and art throughout the property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
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Vintage Guess surf and skate graphics are layered and remixed with Hysteric’s motifs and retro stripes across a range of tees.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The sheriff said investigators would interview the parents of the 15-year-old shooter, who showed up at the reunification point, to learn more about how the teenager obtained a gun and a possible motive.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Details of a motive have not been released, but investigators said the case involved a domestic dispute.—
Mark Price
April 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The robotic characters break free from their restaurant resting place to cause chaos in town, while the villainous Marionette pops up to possess victims for her own nefarious purposes.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Trump has not only stolen top-secret government files, apparently for business purposes but used his office to harass and investigate his political targets.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The bank is not affiliated with the foundation and consultants are not used for labor matters regarding employees, according to Wells Fargo.—
Chase Jordan
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Southlake megachurch and its attorneys want to use someone from the American Arbitration Association or a district judge to settle the matter.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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