1
as in themes
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in patterns
a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric)
the fabric for the upholstery features a scallop shell motif
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motifs
It was created for her royal tour of Australia in 1954 and reveals white and yellow wattle blossom motifs to honor her first visit to the country as queen.
—
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2026
Fruit motifs are a bright and cheerful way to add a little retro charm to a tablescape or bar cart.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Four plant motifs, including a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock, were hand-cut from lace and hand-appliquéd onto ivory silk tulle to represent England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — the four countries that comprise the United Kingdom.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
The motifs indicate a Late Bronze Age date of 1300 to 1100 BCE.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Above you, the luminous gold ceiling stretches like a floating carpet of intricate diamond motifs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Dec-aura points are the decor version—the design, decoration, and styling motifs that elevate a space into something undeniably chic, magnetic, and inviting.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Mathematicians hope that these intricate motifs will point them toward deeper topological features of individual knots.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
Bamboo motifs are laser-etched throughout the collection.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2026
Fruit motifs are a bright and cheerful way to add a little retro charm to a tablescape or bar cart.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Four plant motifs, including a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock, were hand-cut from lace and hand-appliquéd onto ivory silk tulle to represent England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — the four countries that comprise the United Kingdom.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
The motifs indicate a Late Bronze Age date of 1300 to 1100 BCE.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Above you, the luminous gold ceiling stretches like a floating carpet of intricate diamond motifs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Dec-aura points are the decor version—the design, decoration, and styling motifs that elevate a space into something undeniably chic, magnetic, and inviting.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Mathematicians hope that these intricate motifs will point them toward deeper topological features of individual knots.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
Bamboo motifs are laser-etched throughout the collection.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motifs
Noun
-
Director Steven Spielberg’s film is buoyed by a sense of wonder and remains a sharp contrast with many of the decade’s more cynical cinematic themes.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Speed and trust were themes echoed by executives around the table.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The high school baseball season tends to have a slower start due to inconsistent weather patterns in April, and then picks up in intensity around mid-May.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Democrats face an optimistic midterm outlook based on historical patterns showing the party out of power gains substantial House seats and Trump’s approval rating hovering around 40%, well below the 50% threshold that portends political trouble for a president’s party.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tensions have risen in recent months between the United States and the United Kingdom governments over a slew of topics, like the United States' joint war in Iran, the administration's tariffs and ongoing disagreements over theNATO military alliance.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But topics also veer off to the mundane.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The meeting between the two dignitaries will won’t include a livestreamed news conference like those the president has hosted with other international figures.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The large monetary figures Ingoglia unveiled during each news conference came from analyses conducted by the state’s Department of Governmental Efficiency team, or DOGE, which had requested budget information from and visited many municipalities across the state.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pistons fans are, understandably, in shambles, but one fan is taking matters into his own hands to punish himself for daring to be a Pistons supporter.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Whether landlords and towers are following the law matters because towing in Connecticut has disproportionately occurred in low-income areas.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At several tables set up inside the club, participants worked on different sections of the mural, filling in color over pre-drawn designs — each section representing one of the five honorees.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Coach Todd Bowles’ scheme will alleviate some of Bain’s short-arm concerns because of all the movement of players along the front, with slanting and looping in pressure designs.—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Other works in Pau’s repertoire deal with thorny subjects via more oblique and disjointed imagery.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Navarro's goal with the podcast is to both interview interesting subjects and break down news items without the typical restrictions of cable or broadcast TV, where a cohost or panelist may only get a fraction of a 7 minute segment to speak.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
During the service, it is presented along with a number of spiritual ornaments, including the sovereign's orb and several swords, per the Royal Collection Trust.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Hallmark went live on social media Friday from its Kansas City headquarters, featuring employees who helped create the ornaments.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motifs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motifs. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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