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
Though the subject matter is heavy, the movie is leavened by Rushdie’s wry sense of humor.
—
Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
In the putative May 17, 2024 message, Lively, 38 — who starred in and served as a producer on the Colleen Hoover adaptation — began by thanking Matt for considering watching the film and warning him about its subject matter.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
More impressive will be the execution of the heavy subject matter, as Reeves witnesses a horrific crime and tries to recover her fragile sense of security.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
What’s at the root of your interest in this subject matter?
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
In the putative May 17, 2024 message, Lively, 38 — who starred in and served as a producer on the Colleen Hoover adaptation — began by thanking Matt for considering watching the film and warning him about its subject matter.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
More impressive will be the execution of the heavy subject matter, as Reeves witnesses a horrific crime and tries to recover her fragile sense of security.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
What’s at the root of your interest in this subject matter?
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
Noun
-
Here are Pereira’s thoughts on several topics, edited for clarity and brevity.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Erick Taylor,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her company, The Travel Lifestyle, develops special editorial content and projects for numerous publications and companies.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This lets users keep their main work open while asking Gemini to summarize content, compare products, or organize information from multiple sites at the same time.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Investors are watching specific themes, including state-run companies, defense, roads and railways, and brokerages and exchanges, for potential impacts from the budget.—
Ashutosh Joshi,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
What’s that folk tale theme for you?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The sensor can record long and short exposures simultaneously, improving sharpness when subjects move.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The addition of those provisions, the lawsuit argues, violated a requirement in the Missouri Constitution that laws only deal with one subject.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fashion has long harnessed the symbolism of the horse, a recurring motif for brands including Gucci, Loro Piana, Versace, Dior, Celine and Stella McCartney.—
Gemma A Williams,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The 6,000-square-foot estate draws heavily on Moroccan design motifs, with the celebrated interior designer Brittny Button bringing in touches like a 13th-century fireplace in the living room and Moroccan fountains along the exterior.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Both papers hurried to make the most of this dramatic event, no matter how little reporters actually knew about the identity of the gunman or his motives for shooting four people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities have not released details on the victims’ relationship to the suspect, a possible motive for the triple murder, or how they were killed.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In a consumer environment growing increasingly skeptical, leading with purpose and transparency builds trust and authority that will compound over time.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In a prepared speech, Kristi Noem lied about the events, claiming Alex Pretti approached agents with a firearm, and that Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, came for the sole purpose of murder.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Dark matter interacts with itself and normal matter only through the gravitational force and nothing else.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The spokesperson declined to provide any further information, citing an ongoing matter.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
