Thesaurus results for MILIEU

Q: How is the word 'milieu' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of milieu are background , environment , mise-en-scène , and setting . While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons. // an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

Q: Where would 'background' be a reasonable alternative to 'milieu'?

Although the words background and milieu have much in common, background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development. // the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

Q: When is it sensible to use 'environment' instead of 'milieu'?

The meanings of environment and milieu largely overlap; however, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development. // the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

Q: In what contexts can 'mise-en-scène' take the place of 'milieu'?

While the synonyms mise-en-scène and milieu are close in meaning, mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect. // a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

Q: When can 'setting' be used instead of 'milieu'?

The words setting and milieu can be used in similar contexts, but setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms. // a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

milieu

noun

mēl-ˈyü

Definition of milieu next

as in environment

the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded young, innovative artists thrive in the freewheeling milieu that a big city offers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word milieu distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of milieu are background, environment, mise-en-scène, and setting. While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

Where would background be a reasonable alternative to milieu?

Although the words background and milieu have much in common, background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

When is it sensible to use environment instead of milieu?

The meanings of environment and milieu largely overlap; however, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

In what contexts can mise-en-scène take the place of milieu?

While the synonyms mise-en-scène and milieu are close in meaning, mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

When can setting be used instead of milieu?

The words setting and milieu can be used in similar contexts, but setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

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 milieu The political milieu began to change when conservatives in some states, hoping to emulate what was happening in Washington with the Tea Party and the House Freedom Caucus, sought to yank their party further to the right. —

Will Warasila, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024 Long Beach as a milieu is defined by its lack of definition — the city is beaches and suburban avenues and mansions and homeless encampments, all populated by citizens who are always pissed at the cops for either doing too much or not doing enough. —

Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025 Eagle-eyed sleuths quickly traced the 5.02 carat cushion cut East-West ring back to jewelry label Jessica McCormack, a growing favorite among the Hollywood It-girl milieu. —

Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025 The Cave, 1978, is a very early (and already very ambitious) treatment of a dancehall scene, but Forrester doesn’t seem to have settled on this milieu as his primary resource until the early 1980s. —

Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for milieu

Recent Examples of Synonyms for milieu

Noun

There’s a warmth and a patina to Alief that Navis wanted to stress as a home base, but also some genuine cowboy, Southwest aesthetic that was part of the fun of other environments Mo ends up in.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2025
The 1920s were a boom time for L.A., an era of heady confidence in humans’ ability to reshape the natural environment.

— Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025