1
as in theme
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works
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Recent Examples of motif
And if the sneakers themselves didn’t go heavy enough with the prehistoric theme, the shoebox is also fully decked out with a dinosaur motif which, when opened, is intended to look like a Tyrannosaurus opening its mouth.
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Riley Jones, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
The designer anticipates a definite shift from floral to geometric motifs, with bold color-blocking techniques that will set the tone in a room.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter, says there’s a clear motif when isolated instances of wrongdoing are used to scapegoat an entire population.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
Floerns Bear Sweater Ralph Lauren is known for their teddy bear motif on their sweaters.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motif
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motif
Noun
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Specialized themes span food, trekking, family travel, women-only departures, and short breaks.—
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There’s not much to quibble with in the market’s to-and-fro oscillations among sectors and themes so far.—
Noun
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Harvard researchers call this pattern the jagged technological frontier of AI.—
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With their vibrant pink color and unusual picotee pattern, the flowers of 'Supra Cherry' picotee dianthus will command attention in the garden.—
Noun
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Here are Pereira’s thoughts on several topics, edited for clarity and brevity.—
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Noun
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The growing acceptance of Indian design is one reason Bohra no longer resists the Made in India label.—
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The largest maritime manufacturing company in Indonesia, PT Pal has advantages in the design and construction capabilities of naval vessels, commercial vessels, and general engineering.—
Noun
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Coker, to be clear, had no say in the matter.—
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Earlier this week, Risch spoke with Boise’s KIVI-TV Channel 6, and briefly addressed the matter.—
Noun
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After that day, when I was given the book which promised to answer all of my bloody questions—my long-suffering American Girl doll went into the closet.—
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Yes, potential excuses exist, such as the Tigers’ switch to Daniels, a senior Stanford transfer whose tremendous performance (353 yards passing and two touchdowns, 89 yards rushing and two touchdowns) demands the question of why Freeze didn’t turn the offense over to him weeks ago.—
Cite this Entry
“Motif.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motif. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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