1
as in settings
the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set
the first scene was the kitchen of a fancy restaurant during dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in explosions
an outburst or display of excited anger
please don't make a scene while we're at the restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in situations
position with regard to conditions and circumstances
one of the leading figures in the current political scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in sceneries
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production
helped build and paint scenes for the school play
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 scenes
Behind the scenes, Descovich has been a tipster for agencies that investigate schools over transgender sports and bathroom policies.
—
ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
What has the behind the scenes looked like for that?
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
Solo dining is far more common than people think — and in a city built around counter seating, ventanitas and bustling bar scenes, Miami may be one of the easiest places in the country to do it.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
For the brain surgery scenes, the human actor was replaced with an extensive model that allowed shots of McCormack performing the surgery.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Microsoft’s ability to get behind-the-scenes access to OpenAI’s models does help its own AI researchers shortcut development of models that only lag the best ones by a small margin.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
While intimate scenes can clearly be vulnerable, the work of an intimacy coordinator is not a substitute for a mental health coordinator or psychologist.
—Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026
There was not one but two scenes at the end of the film, one of which introduced a new character.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
An assembly of planets in Aries moves through your twelfth house, stirring emotions behind the scenes and asking for careful tending.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
What has the behind the scenes looked like for that?
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
Solo dining is far more common than people think — and in a city built around counter seating, ventanitas and bustling bar scenes, Miami may be one of the easiest places in the country to do it.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
For the brain surgery scenes, the human actor was replaced with an extensive model that allowed shots of McCormack performing the surgery.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Microsoft’s ability to get behind-the-scenes access to OpenAI’s models does help its own AI researchers shortcut development of models that only lag the best ones by a small margin.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
While intimate scenes can clearly be vulnerable, the work of an intimacy coordinator is not a substitute for a mental health coordinator or psychologist.
—Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026
There was not one but two scenes at the end of the film, one of which introduced a new character.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
An assembly of planets in Aries moves through your twelfth house, stirring emotions behind the scenes and asking for careful tending.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scenes
Noun
-
The platform allows parents to filter programs by location, children’s age and cost, and features information on about 10,000 child care providers, including program settings and schedules, walking and transit directions, contact information and inspection records.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Washington has already formally recognized her as the country’s head of state in legal and diplomatic settings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Authorities reinforced security around Jewish sites in the wake of explosions last month outside synagogues in Liege, Belgium, and the Dutch port city of Rotterdam and outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The special effects supervisor on a movie set is responsible for designing and executing practical, in-camera effects such as explosions, pyrotechnics, rigs, and atmospheric elements.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That’s because many federal immigration laws are built around the presumption of birthright citizenship and don’t address situations like that, though the laws could change.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of posing questions about geography or world affairs, the test asked him to tackle hypothetical situations, from the frustrating to the dangerous.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Here, the contrast of sea and stone creates some of the most striking coastal sceneries in the Mediterranean.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The process is quick and unremarkable to anyone familiar with the studio-shoot culture of the city, where the backdrops change but the conventions stay the same.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Across all three nights, attendees could grab animal towel creations that doubled as blankets for the shows, cool down with chocolate and vanilla soft serve ice cream, get airbrush tattoos, and snap photos at colorful backdrops for a chance to score VIP pit upgrades.—
Walaa Elsiddig,
Billboard,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Backlash was immediate given the rapper’s history of antisemitic outbursts.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Right now, the sun is finally moving out of several years of solar maximum—but as this week’s outbursts show, our star is not yet quiet.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Two television cameras looking down from an altitude of about 450 miles made initial pictures of earthly cloud patterns on the satellite’s second orbitable trip.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
After walking into her personal office to find Gordon redecorating the room with pictures of herself, Gomez sits down to review her assistant's to-do list for the day.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The pearl color matches most home decors.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scenes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scenes. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
