as in representative
something (such as a place or an event) that is seen as a small version of something much larger
The village is a microcosm of the whole country. The game was a microcosm of the entire season.
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Recent Examples of microcosm
Our group is a microcosm of the American family.
—
Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Ponza is an unpredictable and unsustainable microcosm.
—Kristina Kasparian, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Vexingly, the war with Iran is reproducing in macrocosm what those wars taught in microcosm.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Salla is a microcosm of Finland’s exposure to the complications of its eastern neighbor.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for microcosm
Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Ponza is an unpredictable and unsustainable microcosm.
—Kristina Kasparian, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Vexingly, the war with Iran is reproducing in macrocosm what those wars taught in microcosm.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Salla is a microcosm of Finland’s exposure to the complications of its eastern neighbor.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for microcosm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for microcosm
Noun
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Perry's representative confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday that the workers were eventually allowed to hold onto the gift cards after confusion was cleared up.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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If Republicans are able to succeed in their efforts, Kansas City would be represented by three Republican representatives, two of whom would be freshmen.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Investigators came under scrutiny for failing to get a search warrant for the golfer’s blood samples, which could have detected any evidence of alcohol or drugs.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
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This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In 2024, for example, the Democratic congressman secured $1 million for a local organization that operates a maternity home for pregnant and new moms between the ages of 12 and 21.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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For example, you're not obligated to buy the car rental company's expensive insurance, regardless of what a car rental salesperson claims.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Microcosm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/microcosm. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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