How to Use wabi-sabi in a Sentence
wabi-sabi
noun-
You’re guided through the process, but the end result still feels personal and slightly imperfect—which is exactly what wabi-sabi is all about.
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Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
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Instead of a full redesign, wabi-sabi encourages layering meaningful, imperfect pieces over time for a personal touch.
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Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
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Guided by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, Yoshoku celebrates natural textures, subtle imperfections and quiet elegance to create a contemplative and artful dining experience.
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Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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After reading a Times story about Georg Kochi, a retiree who swapped his Koreatown lawn with plants suited for California, Lee was inspired by Kochi’s wild, wabi-sabi-style garden, which embraces the art of imperfect beauty.
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Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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The result is an aesthetic that skillfully balances a variety of textures, including injecting Shou Sugi Ban custom treatments inspired by Japanese principles of wabi-sabi that typically employ elements of asymmetry, roughness, and simplicity.
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Rachel Davies,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
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The Current Popularity of Wabi-Sabi, Explained Originating from 16th-century Zen Buddhist Japanese monks, wabi-sabi philosophy embraces fluidity, imperfection, and simplicity.
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Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wabi-sabi.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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