conceit 1 of 2

Definition of conceitnext
1
as in metaphor
an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something the conceit that the crowd at the outdoor rock concert was a vast sea of people waving to the beat of the music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3

conceit

2 of 2

verb

chiefly dialect

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 conceit
Noun
The Christophers introduces itself as another indie spin on a familiar conceit, then heads in a much more empathetic direction than Soderbergh’s usual portrayal of burglars on the down-low. David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026 The film is based on a viral conceit about a digital maze that exists outside of reality. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026 Aks and Pinder’s underlying conceit is believable enough. Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026 In those earlier pictures, metaphysical conceits became visual and dramatic gambits as the filmmakers set out to colonize the vast interior worlds of, respectively, the mind and the spirit. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conceit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceit
Noun
  • As songwriters, the Ottavianos usually only needed a metaphor, a single beautiful image, or a fun double entendre to serve as narrative backbones.
    Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The table at the center of the room balances like a top on a single point, serving as a metaphor for the challenge of finding balance amid the chaos.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But the illusion shatters when a stranger on the street recognizes the dog… as HER boyfriend Danny’s dog.
    William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
  • This week, even Penny’s exceptionalism is revealed to be an illusion.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The elevated bamboo design looks sleek in any space, whether used as a writing desk, makeup vanity, or side table, and has earned numerous five-star ratings for its sturdiness, quality, and ease of assembly.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
  • There’s space to spread out, too, with notably generous layouts and extra-large bathroom vanities.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But dismantling polluting industries, trying to clean up our air and our water, and imagining a health care system not driven by profit would take coordinated, radical restructuring.
    Hannah Kerman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Just imagine Bill Belichick and Rob Gronkowski smashing vodka Red Bulls and partying it up.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The coffee shop seemed so long ago now, so far away, as if something out of a dream.
    Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Derek Muller, an election law expert, suggests that scenario is little more than a fever dream of doomsday devotees and overly nervous Nellies.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But that order is built on ego, not psychology.
    Daren Smith, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
  • In a rollicking monologue, Fry described all opera as comedy, tragedy merely being the result of idiotic egos incapable of levity.
    Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That includes the 49ers, who walked away with a set of three draft picks Friday that no one envisioned.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Stefanishyna envisions a reciprocal partnership with Washington, in which each side can provide the other with critical assistance.
    Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Lush, dark wood shelving and the rolling library ladder of every bookish person's dreams complete the fantasy.
    Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Yet this is precisely the idea that the Enhanced Games is peddling—the fantasy that what Proud or Collins takes to break a world record, at a different dose, might make a man in his 70s more mobile, energized, and maybe even hotter.
    Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceit. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on conceit

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster