new wave

noun

variants often New Wave
Synonyms of new wavenext
1
: a cinematic movement that is characterized by improvisation, abstraction, and subjective symbolism and that often makes use of experimental photographic techniques
2
: a new movement in a particular field
3
: popular music less raw than punk rock and typically including unconventional melodies, exaggerated beats, and quirky lyrics
4
: dernier cri
especially : fashion that is strikingly outrageous
new-wave
ˈnü-ˈwāv How to pronounce new wave (audio)
ˈnyü-, 
-ˌwāv
adjective
new waver
ˈnü-ˈwā-vər How to pronounce new wave (audio)
ˈnyü-
noun

Examples of new wave in a Sentence

people who listened to punk, New Wave, or disco
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Microsoft and Nvidia held a launch party for the first wave of RTX Spark laptops last week in San Francisco, where a new wave of AI PCs took center stage amid a packed crowd and a lively hands-on area. — Tom Warren, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 With artists from across disciplines bringing traditional forms into dialogue with new media, the selection showcases a new wave of cross-disciplinary experimentation. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 But a new wave of executives are letting AI do the reading for them, using it to summarize reports, draft emails, and, in some cases, speak on their behalf. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 From rising stars who make mutant baile funk to rave queens shaping a raunchy new wave of techno-pop, here are the divas changing the face of club music. — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for new wave

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of new wave was in 1960

Rhymes for new wave

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Browse Nearby Words

new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
new wave
New Westminster
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Cite this Entry

“New wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/new%20wave. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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