1
as in theoretical
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
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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
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1
as in summary
a short statement of the main points
the scientist wrote a bare-bones abstract of his research and conclusions
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abstract
Kristin Brown, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
That reticence may well have helped to diminish his reputation; indeed, his contribution has been largely eclipsed by that of his eldest son, the abstract painter and sculptor Ben Nicholson.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 Jan. 2026
Veronique Greenwood, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
So this morning, here's a quick reprieve from the abstract.
—Nick Suss, Nashville Tennessean, 31 Oct. 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
For a digital computer, time is thin, unidimensional, and abstracted away from its thermodynamic arrow.
—Anil Seth, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstract
Adjective
The consequences are not abstract.
—Noun
On November 3, an abstract from an American Heart Association meeting described an unpublished study using this type of data.
—Verb
Affecting meaningful change — or suffering from the lack of it — has become so abstracted for the rich and powerful that everything feels like entertainment to them.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
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In solving an 80-year-old chemical mystery, the researchers have not only answered a long-standing theoretical question but also expanded the toolbox of modern chemistry.—
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Beat writer Lauren Williams walks us through a few theoretical trades here.—
Adjective
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White Out is like something from the high-modernist era of Joyce and Woolf—dark, fragmented, impressionistic, saturated with irony and black humor.—
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Those scenes serve to blend the past and present in a way that suits the film’s impressionistic style.—
Noun
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Structure information summary Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist.—
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The Sill reports that appointments with their human plant specialists have increased 30% as people tire of advice from chatbot service agents, influencers, and AI summaries.—
Noun
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Consciously choosing the design of this polish, applying it calmly, and visualizing your wishes for the new year transforms the manicure into an act of self-care and manifestation.—
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In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.—
Verb
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The goal was to ensure the makeup didn’t distract the audience but rather felt invisible.—
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Even the most emotionally invested of us can get distracted.—
Verb
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The Heise, Pearce, Weber (HPW) Labor Market Tightness Index summarizes current wage pressures and forecasts near-term wage inflation based on the quits rate and job vacancies per job seeker.—
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However, the application must only include a 500-word description of the idea and an informal video that is no longer than three minutes summarizing the idea.—
Adjective
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Beverly, a waitress who had another daughter and then a son in the two years after Smith was born (and eventually one more daughter), had little time for her eldest’s metaphysical ponderings.—
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The film follows a young couple (Qualley and Starkey), who inherit a farm in rural Arkansas and must conquer the demons, both physical and metaphysical, that haunt its legacy.—
Adjective
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Photograph by Evelyn Freja A stroke of inspiration led the boundary-pushing vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater to pair up with the impressionist pianist Bill Charlap.—
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O’Neal is known for both his neo-impressionist paintings and for large-scale installations of souvenir caricature figurines reflecting on the historic commodification of Black creativity.—
Cite this Entry
“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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