in the abstract
idiom
: without referring to a specific person, object, or event : in a general way
thinking about freedom in the abstract
Examples of in the abstract in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So, then, what, really, was the fuss? Cheating, even in the abstract, touches a nerve like no other form of transgression, laying bare a fundamental insecurity about relationships which, as celebrities demonstrate, no allotment of money, talent, or good looks can foreclose.
—
Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Indeed, Americans tend to take a dim view of their healthcare system in the abstract.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
For instance, most Americans do favor supporting Ukraine, working with allies, and defending democracy in the abstract.
—Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2024
But any description of the show in the abstract fails to appreciate the marvel of Bridget Everett.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
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Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Indeed, Americans tend to take a dim view of their healthcare system in the abstract.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
For instance, most Americans do favor supporting Ukraine, working with allies, and defending democracy in the abstract.
—Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2024
But any description of the show in the abstract fails to appreciate the marvel of Bridget Everett.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in the abstract
Dictionary Entries Near in the abstract
Cite this Entry
“In the abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20abstract. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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