conceit 1 of 2

1
as in metaphor
an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something the conceit that the crowd at the outdoor rock concert was a vast sea of people waving to the beat of the music

Synonyms & Similar Words

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conceit

2 of 2

verb

chiefly dialect

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 conceit
Noun
Eternity mines its compelling conceit for both peppery comedy and bleary sentiment. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025 Its conceit is a neat one for a film — and totally believable for a family history from anarchic Eastern Europe after the Second World War. Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025 The pair have taken this conceit and reworked it to be about a football player who, after blowing his college career, dons a whole new disguise, that of Chad Powers, and tries to win it all back. Lucy Ford, Time, 28 Aug. 2025 The series is still going strong thanks to numerous sequels and a spinoff, wading into such over-the-top territory that the initial street racing conceit is now little more than window dressing. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conceit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceit
Noun
  • The scene demonstrates Courtney’s capacious approach to metaphor.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Tipping points are not precise A tipping point is a metaphor for runaway change.
    Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The duo pushes the concept of illusion versus reality to the extreme, personally and professionally, until tragedy reframes and opens a mystery surrounding their last fateful Las Vegas show.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
  • While magicians use illusions to make objects float, physicists pursue levitation for its practical advantages.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Even as the young man attempts to ignore the din of city life outside his window, his fear of losing his vanity is ultimately what disrupts his fantasies.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
  • While Lee road trips around Osage County, Betty Jo sits at the vanity, deciding whether to put on her wedding ring.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Maduro’s government intensified its campaign against dissent in the tense months before last year’s presidential election, targeting both real and imagined opponents in a sweeping crackdown on the opposition.
    Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Here and in many of her writings Stowe imagined Christ as a mediator capable of elevating all Christians to heaven.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For the lesbians who love history and maybe have read the sapphic fantasy novel The Starving Saints, Julie d’Aubigny is the perfect look.
    Samantha Allen, Them., 10 Oct. 2025
  • The film, a tender and romantic fantasy movie from director Kogonada, opened well below expectations.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Prior to the game, Jenkins’ biggest issue was likely a bruised ego.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Both investors emphasized Chavarria’s authenticity and lack of ego as key factors in their decision to back him.
    Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The founders envision the store evolving organically as a blank canvas shaped by the neighborhood and scene.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Latu said he’s already envisioned sacking Arizona’s Kyler Murray (or backup Jacoby Brissett if Murray’s foot injury keeps him sidelined).
    James Boyd, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Though her identity is not at first known to Benedict, the woman turns out to be Sophie Baek, a secretive maid with big dreams.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 13 Oct. 2025
  • With each brick laid at The Site, The Toy will document dad’s decades-long dream.
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceit. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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