THEME Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

theme

noun

ˈthēm

Definition of theme

as in topic

a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) this dance piece deals with the timeless themes of birth and death

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in article

a short piece of writing done as a school exercise please write a one page theme on the main character of this book

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in essay

a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view the magazine will award a scholarship to the student who writes the best theme on the concept of personal freedom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 theme No prior bubble spanned so many dimensions of the economy simultaneously—GDP growth, consumer spending, equity markets, debt markets, and venture capital all tethered to a single theme. — Ming Lu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 Both Dwarf Houses and Truett’s Chick-fil-A restaurants have special menus and themes, but only one is famous for its small doors and vaguely Alpine charm. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026 On 1 of 1, themes of gratitude, faith, hard work, perseverance, transformation and the unifying power of hip-hop dominate the track list, continuing Lyte’s natural talent for imparting wisdom on her audience. — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 22 Oct. 2026 The winning team will be granted $2,500 toward their charity of choice, and the winner of the Spirited Award for best theme and costumes will get $500 to donate to a charity. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for theme

Recent Examples of Synonyms for theme

Noun

Under Burgum's 2025 campaign, signs, books, films and exhibits covering topics such as slavery, climate change and the massacre of Native Americans were flagged and removed from national parks and monuments nationwide.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Aside from clashing over national topics like tariffs, the Iran war, artificial intelligence and Social Security, the candidates were asked about jobs in Michigan, the auto industry and education.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of topic

Noun

His essay came after an employee resigned over fears that AI could pose a threat to humanity, and follows reports from Anthropic and its rivals of AI models hacking into other companies during testing.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
The science writer Ann Finkbender wrote a charming essay about understanding this principle of life in Last Word on Nothing.

— Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of essay

Noun

Each section of the crest pays tribute to the club, the city of Barcelona and the region of Catalonia, through motifs that include the Saint George’s Cross, the Senyera (the Catalan flag) and a vintage-style soccer ball.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
The same questions and ideas and motifs haunt you for the rest of your life.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of motif

Noun

Lamy, now with the Jacques Delors Institute, was one of the authors of a recent policy paper that called for restrictions on Chinese exports using a quota system — an idea that the EU has now embraced.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
But the cells that make it, called ameloblasts, break down once a tooth erupts, and a 2014 paper in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research explains that mature enamel no longer contains the living cells needed to repair itself.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of paper

Noun

Beyond criminal matters, the office is involved in other efforts.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
But victory is far from assured, and the polling numbers – which can be inaccurate – matter less than Israel’s coalition arithmetic.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of matter

Noun

The Sun enters your 9th House, beginning a month of exploration, study, travel, publishing, culture, and questions that stretch your understanding of the world.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
Corn, an eminent scholar of American art, has been thinking about this question for five decades.

— Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of question

Browse Nearby Words

(the) masses

theme

themes

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Style

“Theme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theme. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of theme

noun

Example Sentences

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