abstract 1 of 3

abstract

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noun

abstract

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verb

1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else personal problems abstracted him so persistently that he struggled to keep his mind on his work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 abstract
Adjective
From left: Tam Kaur poses for a headshot; and an abstract illustration of a woman walking along a cliff towards a sign with directions. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025 Creativity brought a more abstract direction where outlines became bolder and more organic, for fresh interpretations of house codes. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 27 May 2025
Noun
Four hundred participants with doctoral degrees were assigned to read the same research abstract. Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Van Gogh’s abstract, swirling painting offered no definitive clues. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
The work instead appears to unfold in segments that are vaguely linear, with the plot of the Shakespeare play abstracted into moving tableaux. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Mar. 2025 These agents would effectively abstract the code and work in concert with developers and DevOps resources. Jason Andersen, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abstract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstract
Adjective
  • Like these directors, Davies Jr. tailors the impressionistic style of older Black filmmakers (think Julie Dash, Arthur Jafa, Charles Burnett) to his own sensibilities.
    Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
  • But Martone’s repetitive, tediously non-linear film attempts something more impressionistic and expansive, with emotionally muted and sometimes strangely exploitative results.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump’s other orders would also ease the regulatory process on approving new reactors and strengthening fuel supply chains, according to a draft summary obtained by Reuters.
    Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Trump will invoke the Defense Production Act to declare a national emergency due to U.S. dependence on Russia and China for enriched uranium, nuclear fuel processing and inputs for advance reactors, according to a draft summary viewed by Reuters.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Inside the park, attendees can roam through physical manifestations of Nintendo games, including the Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong Country.
    Sage Anderson, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
  • Her mom has trouble with intimate relationships and is sort of like a boy crazy mom, and Taylor's the one that's seeing the manifestation of that, and essentially comforting her mother and trying to help her.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Growth must reinforce strategy, not distract from it.
    Ayo Adepoju, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • But when the pair get to a higher point in order to try to see where the Wolves are/where Tommy might be, Ellie is distracted by a nearby aquarium, which has a giant ferris wheel nearby.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Professionals across industries rely on these systems to draft emails, generate reports, summarize data, and even brainstorm ideas.
    Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • In a recent review paper, our team summarized how chronic stress is a hidden but powerful factor underlying cognitive aging, or the speed at which your cognitive performance slows down with age.
    Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • With a degree in theoretical mathematics and geophysical fluid dynamics, Kapnick saw herself as uniquely positioned to take on that challenge.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 31 May 2025
  • This recent study, which does just that, studied two theoretical Population III stars: one 13 times as massive as the sun, and one 200 times as massive.
    Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • In 2019, then-Senate Banking Chair Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican, released a three-page outline that would turn the institutions into private guarantors with a limited share of the mortgage market.
    Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Quartz, 28 May 2025
  • The outline of the initial report — a contract extension for Crow-Armstrong potentially worth around $75 million — has been characterized as inaccurate.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Time and time again, the AI spit out images that were strikingly, unmistakably...
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Scientists created the Mars rover's newest self-portrait by stitching together 59 individual images taken by Perseverance's camera, which is located at the end of its robotic arm.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abstract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstract. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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