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 three categories in competition at Brooklyn Horror 2025 included the annual shorts contest; the Dark Matter lineup, for features grounded in serious subject matter; and the Head Trip section, for features that expand your mind.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025
Velasco wanted to think beyond interpreting color and subject matter with choreography, which focuses on changing levels of direction, shapes and floor patterns.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Many former asylums are now macabre tourist attractions, whose treatment of their subject matter can range from the sensitive to the sensationalist.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Over 10 freewheeling tracks, the band successfully weaves even more of their mythos, while spinning into new genres, tackling new subject matter and having the most fun possible while doing it all.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025
Velasco wanted to think beyond interpreting color and subject matter with choreography, which focuses on changing levels of direction, shapes and floor patterns.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Many former asylums are now macabre tourist attractions, whose treatment of their subject matter can range from the sensitive to the sensationalist.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Over 10 freewheeling tracks, the band successfully weaves even more of their mythos, while spinning into new genres, tackling new subject matter and having the most fun possible while doing it all.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
Noun
-
Lasky also integrates tangential but no-less-compelling topics, like the show-stopping style of Iris Apfel and her influence on Lasky’s mother, and Lasky’s evergreen obsession with The Shining.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Mamdani has also embraced the world of podcasters and influencers, recently hosting a news conference exclusively for content creators that his campaign said was aimed at reaching new and less politically engaged audiences, according to NBC News.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, as showrunner and executive producer Alex Duda explains, the Halloween theme is always based on Clarkson’s Kellyoke pick.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The theme for season 13 hasn't been unmasked, but prior seasons have tackled everything from a cult to a coven to aliens.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Halbach was a 25-year-old photographer and entrepreneur whose murder became the subject of the 2015 Netflix documentary, Making a Murderer.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
On the transgender issue, Earle-Sears has attacked Spanberger over the inclusion of transgender-identifying biological males in women’s sports, restrooms, and locker rooms as the Democratic candidate dodges the subject and says the issue should be handled locally.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
McCormick said each one expresses a distinct element of Rag & Bone’s design identity, including subtle logo stitching, minimalist dials, signature hardware details and other key design motifs.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Two cars named Above and Beyond with subtle but unmistakable nautical references—including the port and starboard colors on a boat’s lights, along with design motifs of several famous superyachts.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Here are the major revelations from the interview and the leading theories about Wuornos’s motives.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
While the workers, in the trees, stay still, the bull’s looming, drifting presence gives frozen stillness an unambiguous motive and makes moments when people shift and even leap from branch to branch terrifyingly suspenseful.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, this approach defeats the primary purpose of insurance, which is to protect against catastrophic costs in the event of an unexpected medical crisis.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Grief pressed in, but so did purpose.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
To compound matters, West Ham’s forthcoming games against Newcastle United (H), Burnley (H), Bournemouth (A), Liverpool (H), Manchester United (A), Brighton (A), Aston Villa (H) and Manchester City (A).—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
That fingerprint was sufficient enough to qualify for a warrant to search the rest of the Norman home, where tests of the pipes leading out of the washing machine revealed some matter containing Beryl’s DNA.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share