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
While there already exists federal regulations and jurisprudence allowing certain volunteer work and internship programs without pay, state law on the subject matter would provide clarity on this obscure and often-litigated issue.
—
Paul Lopez, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
The full range of emotions that your subject matter stirs in you isn’t necessarily relevant to your audience.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Given the subject matter and the pedigree of the filmmakers, the project doesn’t sound particularly kid-friendly.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
John’s subject matter never deviated far from those paintings, but her style developed over the years, said Alastair Smart in The Telegraph.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Paul Lopez, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
The full range of emotions that your subject matter stirs in you isn’t necessarily relevant to your audience.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Given the subject matter and the pedigree of the filmmakers, the project doesn’t sound particularly kid-friendly.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
John’s subject matter never deviated far from those paintings, but her style developed over the years, said Alastair Smart in The Telegraph.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
Noun
-
Weiss has used her rolodex to book guests related to the topic.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Studying and exercising the brain muscle opens you up to interesting topics.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Earlier this year, Nieman Lab reported that The New York Times had built an AI podcast summarizer for its staff to better monitor the massive volume of content created every day across that fragmented ecosystem.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
This content can only be displayed if JavaScript is enabled.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each suite has a musical theme, but the regular guest rooms are just as comfy and spacious.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Craddick, who did not have to give up her railroad commission seat to run for comptroller, pledged a top-to-bottom audit of state government and also leaned into conservative cultural themes, including opposition to DEI.—
Aarón Torres,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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At the time of the building’s construction, Clarence Everett Howard served as chairman of the Orange County school board of trustees and advocated for the inclusion of subjects such as music and art at a time when they were rarely treated as essential parts of public school curricula.—
Sarah M. Boye,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
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Boulder County District Attorney's Office Barnaby was the subject of an unrelated internal investigation in 2020 and resigned from Hygiene Fire, according to the affidavit.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Dots, a brand hallmark, are another recurring motif, both thanks to holes knit into chunky sweaters and paillettes stitched onto delicate, straight-as-an-arrow slip dresses.—
Nicole Phelps,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Connell captures those motifs very differently, as undeniably real places, things and people, complete with histories and complications.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Now, his personal life, criminal history and private affiliations are under extreme scrutiny as investigators dissect his motive.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Fifteen years later, prosecutors charged Jones with second-degree murder, alleging rivalry and fights among teammates as possible motives.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Natanz facility was built for uranium enrichment purposes.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The purpose is to foster humility, reduce a person’s anxiety by releasing their need for control and provide an external source of strength for long-term recovery.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That means communication style and ongoing support matter just as much as technical expertise.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
For months, Bill Clinton, 79, and Hillary Clinton, 78, largely ignored the matter in public but that became harder to sustain in December when the former president was featured prominently in the first batch of Epstein files.—
STEVEN SLOAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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