as in representative
something (such as a place or an event) that is seen as a small version of something much larger
The village is a microcosm of the whole country. The game was a microcosm of the entire season.
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Recent Examples of microcosm
The spat between Trump and Carlson over Middle East policy is being seen by many as a microcosm of GOP divisions on how the U.S. should respond to the crisis in the Middle East and Trump’s willingness to criticize even his closets allies who break from him publicly.
—
Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 17 June 2025
Each character is so drawn and voiced so specifically this Animal Farm really does become a microcosm of society with Rogen’s duplicitous Napoleon the classic case of someone consumed with power and his own narcissism (remind you of anyone?).
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 June 2025
The last decade of Lizzo’s career has been a microcosm of the modern American fame arc.
—Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025
This trial is a microcosm of a dangerous backlash that seeks to diminish the voices of survivors and preserve a culture in which men feel entitled to exploit women, while those who endure violence are shamed and intimidated into silence.
—Liz Roberts, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for microcosm
Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 17 June 2025
Each character is so drawn and voiced so specifically this Animal Farm really does become a microcosm of society with Rogen’s duplicitous Napoleon the classic case of someone consumed with power and his own narcissism (remind you of anyone?).
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 June 2025
The last decade of Lizzo’s career has been a microcosm of the modern American fame arc.
—Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025
This trial is a microcosm of a dangerous backlash that seeks to diminish the voices of survivors and preserve a culture in which men feel entitled to exploit women, while those who endure violence are shamed and intimidated into silence.
—Liz Roberts, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for microcosm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for microcosm
Noun
-
In 2016, some members of Xiaomi’s supply chain team displeased Samsung Electronics Co. representatives and the South Korean firm threatened to halt supply of its industry-leading AMOLED screens.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
7 July 2025
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One suspect believed to be the leader of the operation, who was identified as Y.S., described himself as a representative of Spain’s Sephardic community.—
Orge Castellano,
Sun Sentinel,
7 July 2025
Noun
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But there’s also enough of a sample size, defender Chris McVey said, to believe last week’s lapses were merely a one-off.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
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Biopsy: Your provider may take a sample of tissue from your endometrium and send it to a lab to look for cancer cells.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Media personality Bo Dietl, for example, is teaming up with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to raise $10 million through an outside group to challenge Mamdani, the Wall Street Journal reported.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
12 July 2025
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We’re told, for example, that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has at various times stationed at least five people there, including an assistant special agent in charge and two drone operators.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Microcosm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/microcosm. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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