abstraction

noun

ab-ˈstrak-shən How to pronounce abstraction (audio)
Definition of abstractionnext
as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind to a people who have lived under one dictatorship after another, democracy and freedom are mere abstractions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abstraction Developers, investors, tax equity providers, transfer-credit buyers, and lawyers don’t finance projects based on net national abstractions. — Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Yet in an era increasingly defined by digital abstraction and impermanence, fashion designers are newly preoccupied with the tangible and historic. — Emmanuel Olunkwa, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026 Those themes are compelling on paper, but they’re expressed through a confusing mix of abstraction and hyper-local specificity, hidden beneath biker rock riffs, and obscured through Allbrook’s wiry, wailing vocal delivery. — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 The event also featured several newer additions, including a live painting activation by Charlotte artist Curtis King and a large-scale exhibition showcasing Black abstraction from the Gantt Center’s collection. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for abstraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstraction
  1. idea
  2. concept
  3. conception
  4. notion
  5. thought
  6. impression
Noun
  • Aries March 21 – April 19 The person waiting for your signal may need the clearest version of your idea.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • March 21 – April 19 The person waiting for your signal may need the clearest version of your idea.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
Definition of idea
Noun
  • The building’s second floor will house a full-service restaurant, though the concept has not been finalized, and the third floor will function as a rooftop bar.
    — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 4 July 2026
  • The dog park and bar concept, owned by Free Range Concepts, also shut down its Dallas and Allen locations.
    — Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
Definition of concept
Noun
  • At the time of Sealand’s conception, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) controlled the airwaves in the United Kingdom, playing popular music only late in the night.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Legal preparation is so important before conception, birth, or placement.
    — Morgan Mouchette, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of conception
Noun
  • Those seeking to stop the roundup reject almost all of the federal agencies’ claims, from the size of the herd to the notion that the horses cause ecological damage.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • The decision in the Wong Kim Ark case was so widely accepted that even in periods of great hostility to immigrants, the notion of birthright citizenship remained untouchable.
    — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 June 2026
Definition of notion
Noun
  • The thoughts and prayers expressed on the phones are, in a sense, carried by the wind.
    — Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Her brother said at the time that her first thoughts were with her young daughter, August.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of thought
Noun
  • The complaint accuses Cal-Maine, Hickman's and Versova of conspiring to submit bids to influence egg price quotations, creating the impression there was a greater demand than there actually was.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Set in the pink of a romantic sunset was an impression of Buraq, the steed that had carried the Prophet to heaven and back and shown him the wonders of Paradise.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Definition of impression

Browse Nearby Words

abstracting
abstraction
abstractions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abstraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstraction. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on abstraction

Nglish: Translation of abstraction for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about abstraction

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All