new wave

noun

variants often New Wave
Synonyms of new wavenext
1
: a cinematic movement that is characterized by improvisation, abstraction, and subjective symbolism and that often makes use of experimental photographic techniques
2
: a new movement in a particular field
3
: popular music less raw than punk rock and typically including unconventional melodies, exaggerated beats, and quirky lyrics
4
: dernier cri
especially : fashion that is strikingly outrageous
new-wave
ˈnü-ˈwāv How to pronounce new wave (audio)
ˈnyü-
-ˌwāv
adjective
new waver noun

Examples of new wave in a Sentence

people who listened to punk, New Wave, or disco
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
On April 22, the company’s GitHub account pushed a new wave of malware, suggesting either that the previous breach hadn’t been fully fixed or that a new, unidentified hack had occurred. Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026 His early work with the Heartbreakers had an affinity with the more cutting-edge sounds of punk and new wave; the term pop punk probably comes from the New York Times critic John Rockwell’s write-up of a Petty performance at the Bottom Line in 1977. Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026 Powerful winds from the stars continue to blow an enormous bubble partially seen in Hubble's new image, which sparks new waves of star formation. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026 Fans of Los Angeles’ new wave-centric Cruel World are still waiting to hear what the status of that multi-day concert may be, though many were seemingly satisfied with the recent announcement of the similarly nostalgic Darker Waves in Huntington Beach, coming in November. Lina Lecaro, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for new wave

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of new wave was in 1960

Cite this Entry

“New wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/new%20wave. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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