themed

themed (thēmd) adj.

Usage Problem. Involving a particular topic or motif. Often used in combination:

a colonial-themed tourist attraction.

 

Usage Note: Perhaps because of the spectacular success of theme parks, the noun theme has recently developed the adjectival form, themed, which is used in combination with an adjective or noun to mean “designed around a particular theme.” However, themed has not yet found widespread favor outside the entertainment business. In fact, only 36 percent of the Usage Panel approves of it in sentences like

Some have criticized the network for rejecting two gay-themed commercials.

Their disapproval may stem from the inference that this adjectival participle must come from a verb “to theme,” rather than from the noun theme (as left-handed comes from the noun hand). Although many common verbs, such as telephone, began their lives as nouns, there is often very strong resistance when a noun first begins to be used as a verb. There are indeed instances of theme being used as a verb, but they are relatively rare—a fact that seems to suit the Usage Panel. Ninety-two percent reject the sentence

Disney will theme the new attraction to fit in with the promotions for its latest animated film.

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