1
as in decor
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production
an era in which the mise-en-scène of Broadway musicals became ever more spectacular
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in atmosphere
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded
the movie captures the mise-en-scène of strife and desperation in a country torn apart by civil war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mise-en-scène
The mise-en-scene towards the end feels clumsy, even a bit limp, and the plotting becomes forced.
—
Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
The full mise-en-scene of Biles, Lee, Chiles, Carey, and Rivera wearing their final look beneath a cascade of red, white, and blue confetti communicated a distinct narrative from Minneapolis’ central arena where the games were held.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 2 July 2024
And last night, between 50th and 49th Street, a festive spectacle took place as Saks Fifth Avenue and Dior unveiled their mesmerizing mise-en-scene window display, Dior’s Carousel of Dreams at Saks.
—Maia Torres, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
But the mise-en-scene suffers inexplicably and lacks resonance with our more recent era.
—Bonnie Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Here, an amusing if chaotic mise-en-scene is what’s at center stage.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023
Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
The full mise-en-scene of Biles, Lee, Chiles, Carey, and Rivera wearing their final look beneath a cascade of red, white, and blue confetti communicated a distinct narrative from Minneapolis’ central arena where the games were held.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 2 July 2024
And last night, between 50th and 49th Street, a festive spectacle took place as Saks Fifth Avenue and Dior unveiled their mesmerizing mise-en-scene window display, Dior’s Carousel of Dreams at Saks.
—Maia Torres, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
But the mise-en-scene suffers inexplicably and lacks resonance with our more recent era.
—Bonnie Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Here, an amusing if chaotic mise-en-scene is what’s at center stage.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mise-en-scène
Noun
-
Continuing the tradition of intellectual discourse, the space was transformed into the Saint James Club of Paris, a London-style private club, in the 1980s and the hotel was added about a decade later, with the décor handled by legendary designer Andrée Putman.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Remove unused items like tools, toys and old decor.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Much of it was lofted by tiny gas pockets into the upper water column, only to fall back downward after the bubbles fizzed into the atmosphere.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Opt for the fine-dining option to sink into a quieter atmosphere.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her work plainly belongs to this lineage of witchy writers, women whose deliciously corrupted scenes of home and hearth produce fear and wild laughter at once.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lawmakers are now weighing how to balance climate goals with the need to maintain a stable and affordable fuel supply to power the present.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
For art institutions, the climate emergency should not only mean doing less.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And against that backdrop, AI euphoria is driving a boom in public stock markets even as the giant new private lending systems are showing signs of strain.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
With higher energy prices expected to hurt an already struggling lower- and middle-income consumer, and the risk of interest rates no longer falling, the bank sees a weaker-than-expected macro backdrop for Carvana in 2026.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stretching for more than 100 miles along Scotland’s east coast, the Fife Coastal Path offers a journey through some of the country’s most characterful seaside scenery.—
Rosie Conroy,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Take your snorkel and mask—the underwater scenery here is stunning.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But there was the more important distance — the one separating Liverpool’s summer signing (from the Swedish top-flight club Kristianstad DFF) from the high-ankle sprain in December suffered during a benign set-piece session.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Another version used the bubble-wand photo to give Graham a pink Cinderella-style dress and a set of Mini Mouse ears, complete with perky red bow.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mise-en-scène.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mise-en-sc%C3%A8ne. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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