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leitmotif

[lahyt-moh-teef] / ˈlaɪt moʊˌtif /


Example Sentences

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Scorsese’s faith, and his battles with it, provide something of a leitmotif of the series — is he a saint or a sinner?

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 16, 2025

The book is crowded with characters, but “Sunshine Charlie” Mitchell, the head of National City Bank of New York, provides a sort of leitmotif.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 10, 2025

Its leitmotif is push and pull: unsettling, bruising, often brutal, yet ultimately life-affirming.

From BBC Sep. 4, 2025

In the “Barbie” film, “What Was I Made For?” plays a key role — an instrumental version of the song pops up like a leitmotif, soundtracking introspective, existential moments for its protagonist.

From Seattle Times Mar. 10, 2024

At its simplest, leitmotif is a straightforward association of a nugget of tune with a character.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall




Vocabulary lists containing leitmotif


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