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
Special sessions are called by the governor or by a petition of three-fifths of the members of both the state House and Senate and are limited to specific subject matters.
—
Sophia Eppley,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
But the special is not good or bad on the merits of its subject matter.
—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
Special masters are subject matter experts who oversee implementation of a settlement and handle questions and disputes, subject to review by the district court judge.
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Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
But Tuesday’s edition was particularly raw given the subject matter Leo covered.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Sophia Eppley,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
But the special is not good or bad on the merits of its subject matter.
—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
Special masters are subject matter experts who oversee implementation of a settlement and handle questions and disputes, subject to review by the district court judge.
—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
But Tuesday’s edition was particularly raw given the subject matter Leo covered.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
Noun
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Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer in your 4th House of Home and Family, bringing old household topics, family patterns, or private concerns back up for review.
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This train of thought quickly gets lost in the sauce as the topic frustratingly switches back to Shamea and her job with the NBA.
Noun
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As adult influencers dominate online fashion culture, and tweens and teens see the same content as adults, there are fewer spaces for young people to develop styles of their own.
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The move reverses Roberts’ purchase of NBCUniversal in 2011 — a bold bet that created a behemoth with popular programming and cable pipes to pump that content into consumer homes.
Noun
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Its summer program is built as a four or five-day series, with each two-hour session focused on a theme like pastry-making or global flavors.
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The first box was the Snack Blind Box, and the second box was the Fiber Blind Box, meaning Wednesday's drop will be one of the other two themes.
Noun
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Although neither Swift or Travis Kelce, nor their representatives, have publicly commented, the possibility of a wedding at one of the world's most iconic sports and entertainment venues has become the subject of intense speculation.
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The Gosselin family was the subject of the reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8, which ran for six seasons on TLC, starting in 2007.
Noun
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The Oscar-winning actress’ dress was comprised of pink lace and featured semi-sheer fabric beneath the botanical motifs throughout the delicate material.
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But lucky visitors to the pope or Secretariat of State walk along it en route to their audiences and are treated to biblical scenes, from the Old Testament and New, as well as botanical motifs in painting and stucco.
Noun
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Regardless of motive, the proposals that have come out of MLB’s New York headquarters have been vast and aggressive, and have landed with a thud in both clubhouses around the league, and with people who cover the sport for a living.
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At the time, Igbinijesu's family said investigators told them the shooting appeared to be targeted, but police did not publicly disclose a possible motive.
Noun
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Sheriff's officials said a detailed investigation determined three employees used the system for non-law enforcement purposes, violating both agency policy and Georgia law.
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Protect your space, then re-engage with purpose.
Noun
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The news comes as Lackland Air Force Base in Texas — home to the Air Force's Basic Military Training program — grapples with a flu outbreak that has infected 275 people in recent weeks, a congressional staffer with knowledge of the matter told CBS News.
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To make matters worse, microbiome testing has gotten cheaper and faster, but not more accurate.
Cite this Entry
“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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