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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motif
These design motifs from Boucheron’s archive all come together in the French jewelry house’s Quatre collection of rings, necklaces, and earrings.
—
Air Mail, 24 May 2025
Her first creations, a diamond necklace and earrings in a fan motif, referenced her family’s roots in eastern Nigeria, where making fans, especially in raffia and leather, is a traditional handicraft.
—Victoria Gomelsky, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The motif of changelings—of fairies taking a human child and leaving a nonhuman child in its place—comes up throughout the story.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
For 99 years, the criss-cross balcony motif that runs along the Bullens Road Stand has been the symbol of Goodison Park’s enduring charm.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motif
Air Mail, 24 May 2025
Her first creations, a diamond necklace and earrings in a fan motif, referenced her family’s roots in eastern Nigeria, where making fans, especially in raffia and leather, is a traditional handicraft.
—Victoria Gomelsky, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The motif of changelings—of fairies taking a human child and leaving a nonhuman child in its place—comes up throughout the story.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
For 99 years, the criss-cross balcony motif that runs along the Bullens Road Stand has been the symbol of Goodison Park’s enduring charm.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motif
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motif
Noun
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The collections are often narrative-driven, reflecting personal experiences and contextual themes that connect ornament with identity and critique.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
5 June 2025
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The decision to film in Tasmania’s Eagle Hawk Neck region proved transformative for the production’s tone and themes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Talk with your healthcare provider to understand the root cause of your food cravings and develop an eating pattern that meets your needs.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
5 June 2025
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Suburbs around Minneapolis and Boston exhibited similar patterns, a reversal of traditional expectations where cities, rather than suburbs, drew the majority of renters.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Angela is also opening up about sensitive topics — like being millions of dollars in debt over these houses??—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
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Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Noun
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The only thing to keep in mind is that, because of their sleek design, the shoe may seem narrow for those with wide feet.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2025
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The experience of working with elite football clubs exposed Bord to inefficiencies, and the absence of sophisticated algorithms that his company designs.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Noun
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They were raised during the internet boom, financial decentralization, and the notion that digital identity and ownership matter.—
Chrissa McFarlane,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Others, meanwhile, said family matters should be left for behind closed doors and not for public shaming.—
Stephanie Guerilus,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
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The question is whether college added much value—or simply served as a costly sorting mechanism.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Any doc brings up those questions, but Paul really brought them to the surface.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motif.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motif. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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