as in topic
the information or ideas that are discussed or dealt with in a book, movie, etc.; what something is about
I found the film's subject matter to be quite disturbing. The magazine's editors care more about style than about subject matter. She disapproves of the artist's choice of subject matter.
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Recent Examples of subject matter
Romance books are red-hot right now — both in terms of sales and subject matter.
—
Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Her award-winning entries spanned a wide range of categories and subject matter.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Certified teachers will provide small group tutoring assistance for all subject matters for students in second through eighth grade.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The diversity of subject matter, the way films were shot, the complete absence of any cinema outside of São Paulo and Rio.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Her award-winning entries spanned a wide range of categories and subject matter.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Certified teachers will provide small group tutoring assistance for all subject matters for students in second through eighth grade.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The diversity of subject matter, the way films were shot, the complete absence of any cinema outside of São Paulo and Rio.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
Noun
-
Administration public health officials often cite the need to restore trust in public health systems after the coronavirus pandemic, when vaccine policy and the general public health response to the deadly pandemic became a highly polarizing topic in American politics.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The data presented will be updated over time and will be expanded as additional statistics become available on other topics.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Çelebi — to analyze the contents further.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
On Monday, the jury was instructed not to hold Meta and YouTube liable for allowing third-party content, failing to remove third-party content or recommending third-party content.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The summit’s overall theme was the breakdown of American healthcare and how the industry needs to be disrupted and rebuilt from the ground up.—
Annie Levin,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Emerging from a stormy period in Sutkowski’s life, III’s blend of emo, slowcore, and folk works great as a cathartic emotional exercise thanks to its visceral themes and weighty sound, even though the record seldom adds anything new to an ever-evolving emo canon.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington this week, with Iran expected to be the major subject of discussion, his office said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
On the subject of passive full-backs… What on earth was going through Lucas Digne’s mind?—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Daisy Heel itself extends one of Jacobs’ most recognizable motifs.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
And most importantly, it’s all rendered in a Western motif, not unlike an oversized cabin in the woods.—
Brad Japhe,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Cops did not publicly speculate on the motive for the attack.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Neither the company nor Mexican authorities have commented on what a possible motive could be.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nevertheless, laid low by cancer and the claim battle, Karen Powers continued on in the job that had provided her with a lifelong sense of meaning and purpose.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
SpaceX plans to use its Starship system for the task — the largest spacecraft and rocket system ever built, and the vehicle that Musk says is purpose-made for taking people to Mars.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kiley has occasionally bucked GOP leadership on procedural matters and previously voted against a House rule that would have blocked consideration of tariff repeal measures.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Feb. 2026
-
These features cannot be made by a single star that pulses and ejects material periodically; that would simply lead to a smooth distribution of matter.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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