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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 And with the cultural milieu of models on the runway in that decade, even if challenges remained, designers and tastemakers knew the moment was noteworthy. Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 31 Jan. 2025 The prosecution of Russell also offers insight to how American law enforcement and intelligence agencies collaborate with their foreign counterparts to combat the transnational far-right milieu that spawned the Terrorgram Collective. Ali Winston, WIRED, 29 Jan. 2025 This episode furnishes just enough Nadine nonsense to up the fun factor and highlights once again what rarefied milieux Elsbeth and Kaya navigate each week. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024 By the ’90s, as the AIDS epidemic devastated precisely the artistic and LGBT+ communities that made up Atlas’s milieu, much of his work became forged by a sense of loss, danger, and violence. Beatrice Loayza, ARTnews.com, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for milieu
Recent Examples of Synonyms for milieu
Noun
  • Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply, and keep our children healthy and strong.
    CBS News, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The broader market environment favors this separation, with Middleby RemainCo aiming to capitalize on the increasing adoption of automation, ventless kitchens, and digitalized food service operations.
    Joe Cornell, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Serving many different customers The advantages of such a platform include superior image quality, less congested orbits, and natural debris removal as inoperable satellites are pulled down into Earth's atmosphere and burnt up.
    Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Fewer people on the slopes is also a huge bonus for skiers and the mountain atmosphere is much more relaxed.
    Roger Sands, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Morrison provides just enough context via on-screen text, explaining how the murder of Laquan McDonald four years earlier had created tensions between police and the public.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The season so far has set an interesting context leading up to the COTA race.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • So despite the climate of the world, because the climate is always going to change.
    Jasmine Browley, Essence, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Trump’s executive order promoting timber production, meanwhile, would be devastating for the climate, critics say.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Another new trick is the ability to add Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds for personalized surround, which creates an almost AR effect.
    Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
  • But the new copy released nationwide via Janus has been finished in crisp digital 4K with a new 5.1 surround soundtrack.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Milieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/milieu. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

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