minimalism 

Small as possible, like this entry.

This definition is an example of minimalism.

minimalism by domp October 27, 2007

Minimalism 

Not just an aesthetic, but a way of life. This philosophy is characterized by owning only essentials, and not buying anything that you won't use. You must make as much utility as you can out of a thing. Space cannot be wasted with superfluousness. Accessories, swag, beauty, boring or unproductive activity, and useless objects are not recommended. Minimalism is wrongly associated with sleek, white, and boring products, but those things are often NOT actually minimalist because they have no use other than looking aesthetic. Minimalism is about essentialism and materialism, not appearance. Minimalism is not anti-color or anti-fun.

I only have 3 outfits in my closet, 3 close friends, and 2 meals a day because I am practicing Minimalism.

Minimalism by Meimeyayme July 30, 2025

Facebook Minimalism 

Minimalist facebook activities. Like having a silhouette of a willy for your profile picture, one word status in gibberish, or under ten friends. A serious movement which is gaining momentum in the UK.

Anonymous: "woah! silhouette of a willy for a profile picture!"

Anonmymous: "Aaaaah. Facebook minimalism IN ACTION YEAH BABY."

Facebook Minimalism by TARASOGA August 16, 2011

trumpian minimalism

Limited language spoken by a person because of their limited vocabulary, as opposed to a language that is plain by design.

I hated the film! Not only acting, but also the dialogue was horrible. Hollywood makes movies for foreign audiences now, because they make more from overseas than they make from domestic, and we get this Trumpian minimalism in language as a result, so it's not confusing to anybody.

trumpian minimalism by Rüzgar Kamil January 30, 2018

Eco-Minimalism

The type of lifestyle where one tries to buy as little as possible and live a sustainable life. This word was created by Shelbizleee.

"I think that people who live a lifestyle of Eco-Minimalism are very admirable."

Eco-Minimalism by ilovetheplanet! December 6, 2020

decolonial minimalism 

A philosophical, cultural, and aesthetic movement that merges the principles of minimalism with decolonial thought. It advocates for rejecting excessive consumerism and colonial influences in favor of intentional, ethical, and culturally rooted practices. Decolonial minimalism emphasizes sustainability, indigenous knowledge systems, and the reclamation of identity through simplicity and conscious choices.

His paintings embody decolonial minimalism, stripping away colonial aesthetics to highlight indigenous symbols and narratives in their rawest, most powerful form.

decolonial minimalism by IJWBAA June 15, 2025

The Paradox of Minimalism

The Paradox of Minimalism may be summed up in one sentence:

"If less is more, how little is too much?"

There are NIL Google results for that phrase, a quotation now attributable to Possom Cohen, New Zealand.

Time becomes more valuable as one ages. This is a classic example of the Paradox of Minimalism.
The Paradox of Minimalism is related to the passage of time and to The Holiday Paradox.

Why Does Time Seem to Speed Up with Age?
July 1, 2016
Scientific American

Bonnie Raitt addressed the passage of time and the Paradox of Minimalism in her song "Nick Of Time."

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time

"I see my folks are getting on
And I watch their bodies change
I know they see the same in me
And it makes us both feel strange

No matter how you tell yourself
It's what we all go through
Those lines are pretty hard to take
When they're staring back at you

Oh Oh Oh, scared you'll run out of time

When did the choices get so hard
With so much more at stake
Life gets mighty precious
When there's less of it to wa-a-a-aste

Mmm-m-m-m-m-m
Mmmmmmm, scared you'll run out of time"

+

There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about life - full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering, and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly.”

― Woody Allen, Annie Hall: Screenplay

The Paradox of Minimalism is epitomized in the opening sentence of this 2016 New York Times article:

"It has become an ostentatious ritual of consumerist self-sacrifice; people who have it all now seem to prefer having nothing at all."

The Oppressive Gospel of ‘Minimalism’
By Kyle Chayka
July 26, 2016
NYTimes

The Paradox of Minimalism also describes some very rich people giving away most of their material possessions.

“The richer you are, the less you have.”

Another ironic example of the Paradox of Minimalism is the recent KonMari decluttering craze:

konmari.com

The Paradox of Minimalism by Primary Producer NZ April 11, 2022