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
However, any hopes of escaping her dark subject matter — and spending her time befriending the local PTA moms — are halted when a serial killer infiltrates the community.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 30 June 2025
The hearings drew respectful coverage in mainstream media outlets despite being subject matter that was considered kook bait when Stratton was growing up in the ’70s.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 30 June 2025
Eliza allows employees to build AI agents such as chatbots that offer niche subject matter expertise on areas like compliance, as well as more advanced reasoning tasks.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 26 June 2025
There’s always a little colored sarcasm in our music, there’s a little tongue-in-cheek, but then there is always some really deep meaningful subject matter on our records, too.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 30 June 2025
The hearings drew respectful coverage in mainstream media outlets despite being subject matter that was considered kook bait when Stratton was growing up in the ’70s.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 30 June 2025
Eliza allows employees to build AI agents such as chatbots that offer niche subject matter expertise on areas like compliance, as well as more advanced reasoning tasks.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 26 June 2025
There’s always a little colored sarcasm in our music, there’s a little tongue-in-cheek, but then there is always some really deep meaningful subject matter on our records, too.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
Noun
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Bronin’s brains have been one of the most commented upon topic of politics in the past year.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
19 July 2025
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Let your personality shine across topics Don’t worry about hopping the boundaries of your niche.—
Renae Gregoire,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Rice’s portfolio as an executive includes dozens of Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations across thousands of hours of content.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
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This association is attributed to the polyphenol content present in these fruits.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Still staying true to the all-black, high-shine leather theme, Reese wears a pinstriped leather blazer and trouser set from Amiri.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Evangelista is a Filipino American writer-director whose work spans narrative, commercial and documentary filmmaking and traffics in themes of identity, power and love.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Boulos, who moved back to South Florida four years ago, has long been the subject of countless conspiracy theories and corruption allegations on social media.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 July 2025
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The bag of cocaine found at the White House during the Biden administration has been the subject of much controversy, as speculation mounted that the bag belonged to Hunter Biden, whose struggles with drug and alcohol addiction had been widely known.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
22 July 2025
Noun
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The lounge area gets a stylish refresh, with the House’s iconic Web and Interlocking G motifs splashed in a breezy, seasonal palette.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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Related: The Newest Hotel in Osaka, Japan, Is in One of the City's Most Impressive Buildings, With an On-site Onsen and an 11-acre Park Next Door There are subtle peacock-tail motifs throughout the hotel, from the kumiko woodwork headboards to the washi paper in the elevator.—
Amber Gibson,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Elizabeth Warren questioned the motives behind CBS’ decision.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
18 July 2025
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So too does the motive of one person radiate outward, rippling in a space of sociopolitical relevance.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
17 July 2025
Noun
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Legally, the Department of Defense can make military bases available to any federal, state or local law enforcement officials for law enforcement purposes, according to the National Immigration Law Center.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 July 2025
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As Wolf says, cannabis hospitality’s future belongs to those who serve purpose, not novelty — building a new kind of travel rooted in mindfulness, connection and place.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
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When speed and urgency matter, leaders and teams need solutions that reduce noise and enhance focus.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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The soil should be rich in organic matter and well-draining.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
19 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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