1
as in theoretic
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
the book deals with abstract matters such as honesty and integrity on the job as well as practical subjects such as asking for a raise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impressionistic
using elements of form (as color, line, or texture) with little or no attempt at creating a realistic picture
Cubism is a style of abstract art in which natural forms are broken up into geometric shapes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in summary
a short statement of the main points
the scientist wrote a bare-bones abstract of his research and conclusions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in manifestation
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality)
a recent college valedictorian who's been hailed as the very abstract of what's right with today's young people
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else
personal problems abstracted him so persistently that he struggled to keep his mind on his work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to summarize
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
took the 135-page report and abstracted it in three short paragraphs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 abstract
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 14 May 2025
These abstract metaphors for legal deformation, social imprisonment, and corrupted meaning are spaces where American experience is currently, frequently twisted.
—Armond White, National Review, 14 May 2025
Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Van Gogh’s abstract, swirling painting offered no definitive clues.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Mar. 2025
These agents would effectively abstract the code and work in concert with developers and DevOps resources.
—Jason Andersen, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstract
Adjective
Or maybe watching these themes play out in robot stories makes our own mortality easier to contemplate — like play-therapy puppets, the bots hold the nightmare at arm’s length and abstract it.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 14 May 2025
These abstract metaphors for legal deformation, social imprisonment, and corrupted meaning are spaces where American experience is currently, frequently twisted.
—Armond White, National Review, 14 May 2025
Noun
Four hundred participants with doctoral degrees were assigned to read the same research abstract.
—Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Van Gogh’s abstract, swirling painting offered no definitive clues.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
The work instead appears to unfold in segments that are vaguely linear, with the plot of the Shakespeare play abstracted into moving tableaux.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Mar. 2025
These agents would effectively abstract the code and work in concert with developers and DevOps resources.
—Jason Andersen, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
-
The film also incorporates an experimental narrative approach called Deaf Point of View, using impressionistic visual photography and intricate sound design to thrust the audience into the Deaf experience.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2025
-
His work is instantly recognizable, with vibrant, impressionistic swirls of purple, orange, green and red.—
John Wenzel,
The Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2025
-
Trump’s other orders would also ease the regulatory process on approving new reactors and strengthening fuel supply chains, according to a draft summary obtained by Reuters.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Inside the park, attendees can roam through physical manifestations of Nintendo games, including the Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong Country.—
Sage Anderson,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025
-
Her mom has trouble with intimate relationships and is sort of like a boy crazy mom, and Taylor's the one that's seeing the manifestation of that, and essentially comforting her mother and trying to help her.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
Growth must reinforce strategy, not distract from it.—
Ayo Adepoju,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
But when the pair get to a higher point in order to try to see where the Wolves are/where Tommy might be, Ellie is distracted by a nearby aquarium, which has a giant ferris wheel nearby.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
25 May 2025
Verb
-
What now in Toronto? To summarize: In the first round, the Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 lead against an overwhelmed wild-card opponent and flirted with blowing the series before closing it out in six.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
To summarize, here are some steps to get started: Self-reflection: Assess your interests, values, and long-term goals.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
For stock market investors, the equity risk premium is the theoretical excess return of stocks over risk-free assets to account for market risk.—
,
CNBC,
19 May 2025
-
But this wasn’t a concept Kang pursued purely for its theoretical strength.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
Yet amid all the business fanfare, the outlines of an emerging Trump foreign policy could be discerned.—
Howard LaFranchi,
Christian Science Monitor,
15 May 2025
-
Then format it as: 1) A LinkedIn post with a strong hook and clear formatting, 2) A Twitter thread with 5-7 tweets, 3) Instagram carousel slide titles, 4) A YouTube script outline.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
The Ivy League institution previously housed the images, believed to be the earliest taken of enslaved African people in the United States, in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
29 May 2025
-
Lee Jun-seok has sought to burnish his image as a center-right reformer who is committed to conservative policies but rejects the insulated, outdated political culture of the conservative political establishment.—
Jong Eun Lee,
The Conversation,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share