compositions

noun

plural of composition
1
as in works
a literary, musical, or artistic production the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David

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2
as in articles
a short piece of writing done as a school exercise a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions

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3
as in layouts
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images

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4
as in essays
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day

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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 compositions Langley has seen a total of a dozen compositions land on the roster, eight of which have climbed into the top 10. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Not enough people look back to the ancient world, which is more associated with epic poetry about gods and war than prose compositions. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026 Love, longing, humor and nostalgia tell the story in gorgeously sung compositions. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 Pomellato’s dual mastery of goldsmithing and gem-setting is on full display, with the pieces showcasing openwork gold and stone compositions. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 25 June 2026 Her style was wholly her own, with a delightfully strange mix of off-kilter compositions, deadpan facial expressions, and historical references. — Grace Edquist, Vogue, 25 June 2026 That’s not to mention an upcoming summer of local and national festivities that promises fireworks, parades, bands, speeches, prizes, and commemorative everything, from postage stamps and coins to musical compositions. — Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026 The recreational use of bigger display fireworks, such as salutes that contain two grains – 130 milligrams – of explosive materials and professional-grade aerial shells with more than 60 grams of pyrotechnic compositions isn't allowed. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 27 June 2026 The partnership includes select compositions performed by artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, Tove Lo, DNCE and Demi Lovato. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compositions
  1. works
  2. articles
  3. layouts
  4. essays
  5. pieces
  6. papers
  7. designs
  8. stories
Noun
  • Yet despite several of these being substantial works by some of our most noted and venturesome composers, few bicentennial commissions have survived.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Today, over 100 works by artists like François Boucher, Giulio Carpioni, Henri Strésor, and Jacob Marrel are spread across the corridors, restaurants and bars visible to all visitors—the tried and tested, with a fresh twist.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of works
Noun
  • On the walls, black-and-white printouts of newspaper articles, magazines and book pages looked like they were plucked from a Pinterest board on scrapbooking.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The internet is swarming with articles and videos decrying the decision.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of articles
Noun
  • Type a topic into the input field, and the platform spins up a structured presentation with smart layouts, professional copy, and visuals across every slide.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 4 July 2026
  • Beyond dining and bed layouts , the rear lounge also folds out of the way entirely.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of layouts
Noun
  • Artificial intelligence has complicated the reliability of admissions essays.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Woolf composed her great modernist novels and her brilliant essays while troubled by suicidal thoughts and the tumult of two world wars.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 1 July 2026
Definition of essays
Noun
  • According to Jackson’s account, Fong said her father, the village headman, removed large pieces of wreckage from the crash site and organized the burial of McKinney’s body right there.
    — Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • And cadets were on the hunt for unique pieces to add to their collections.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of pieces
Noun
  • Remarkably, in 2019, Correia beat out a recall vote from the City Council by utilizing a section of the City Charter allowing the subject of a recall to file nomination papers for the next election and run to succeed themselves.
    — Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026
  • Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of papers
Noun
  • The celebration included dual Zac Posen custom designs – DeGeneres in a cream vest and slacks, de Rossi in a tuxedo halter top and baby pink tulle skirt – plus an all-vegan menu, and it was officiated by self-help author and friend Wayne Dyer.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Its designs are worn by on-court officials, lines judges and ball boys and girls, embedding the brand directly into the tournament’s visual language.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of designs
Noun
  • Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
    — Data Skrive, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • The history of Kaskaskia is full of stories of resilience and stubborn pride, but also of the inevitability of nature.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of stories

Browse Nearby Words

composition
compositions
compos mentis
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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of compositions for Spanish Speakers

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