modernisms

noun

plural of modernism
as in archaisms
a way of saying something that is particular to the present day; a modern speech form modernisms like "blog" and "life hack"

Related Words

Relevance

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 modernisms The silk mousseline garments floated almost like ghosts or memories of Chanel designs past, including the famous skirt suit with its matching cardigan and Karl Lagerfeld modernisms like jeans with a tweed jacket, plus the iconic flap bag. — CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modernisms
  1. terms
  2. colloquialisms
  3. neologisms
  4. coinages
  5. phrases
  6. euphemisms
Noun
  • For Polaris, the bigger slot arrives alongside a new song made on its own terms — a first step rather than a final word.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But little progress has been made towards implementing a deal to end the conflict, which includes terms for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of terms
Noun
  • While Niles’ lack of dialogue and his comedic chops can translate well and lead to worldwide exposure, a character whose appeal depends on English-language jokes and colloquialisms is harder to export.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of colloquialisms
Noun
  • These neologisms weren’t just clever.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
  • Podcasts, newsletters, and Words of the Year have popularized neologisms, etymologies, and usage trends.
    — Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of neologisms
Noun
  • The author, a professor named Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, proved to have a knack not just for provocative legal essays but for coinages, too.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • There were a few coinages in the script, but 90 percent of the language is real.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
Definition of coinages
Noun
  • Brands built their product content around those phrases, and whoever optimized best for them won the traffic.
    — Usman Ilyas, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • As Kamphoff repeated these phrases during her race, her pace picked up.
    — Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of phrases
Noun
  • Sam Roberts, a longtime obituarist for the New York Times, wants to banish the euphemisms that attend death.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Tshabalala’s bluntness about the economic cost is the rare honest signal here; business will not be pacified by euphemisms.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of euphemisms

Browse Nearby Words

modernism
modernisms
modernist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Modernisms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modernisms. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All