minimalism
noun
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In the 1960s, a few composers, including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and John Adams, began writing music inspired by the music of India and Southeast Asia, often with a quick pulsing beat and chords that are repeated quickly over and over while small changes are slowly introduced. Minimalist art, which began appearing around the same time, tries to strip away all personal elements, often leaving only pure geometric forms; you may have seen the plain silver boxes of Donald Judd, or the straight neon tubes of Bruce Nauman. In literature, the stripped-down fiction of Samuel Beckett and Raymond Carver is often considered minimalist. But there's a real question whether these various types of minimalism should even be considered the same concept.
Examples of minimalism in a Sentence
Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
With a black and white color palette, this style elevates minimalism by adding greenery and natural wood.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2025
These pre-measured, highly concentrated detergent sheets offer a practical, eco-conscious alternative to bulky plastic detergent bottles — directly appealing to today’s consumers who value minimalism and ease of use.
—WWD, 21 Mar. 2025
More young people are deleting their accounts, adopting old-school flip phones, picking up analog hobbies and embracing digital minimalism.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minimalism
Cite this Entry
“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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