connotation

noun

Definition of connotationnext
as in implication
an idea or quality that is suggested by a word or thing a word with positive connotations The word "childlike" has connotations of innocence.

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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 connotation The way words are perceived can change too, with connotations morphing from negative to positive. — Kirk McClure, Fortune, 14 July 2026 The Benefits of Downsizing Your Home and Belongings Downsizing doesn’t have to carry a negative connotation. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 7 July 2026 Just keep in mind that upside-down pineapples have certain connotations (IYKYK). — Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 5 July 2026 Richmond Richmond may not have the immediate colonial connotations of some of the other cities in Virginia, but one of the most significant speeches of the Revolutionary era happened right in downtown Richmond. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for connotation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for connotation
  1. implication
  2. sense
  3. meaning
  4. hint
  5. indication
  6. definition
  7. suggestion
  8. message
Noun
  • But Tanaka’s lab is already considering a much weirder and potentially more profound implication.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Let’s look at what might be driving the increase in yields and the possible implications for markets.
    — Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of implication
Noun
  • In its evaluation, the committee cited the film’s polished craftsmanship and the clarity of its directorial vision, pointing to the tone and mise-en-scène that sustain a sense of pressure throughout the story.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • To channel this sense of joyful minimalism, pair a bold color with playful accents, rich textures, and meaningful décor that brings personality to the space without overwhelming it.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • This reckoning between mother and son will forever change the meaning of their relationship.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ever the writer, Parton managed to find some poetry and deeper meaning in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an I-65 rest stop.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of meaning
Noun
  • And given the lunar ice’s likely extreme age, Dell’Agnello says, tracing its history would offer hints about the origins of Earth’s water as well.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In overtime versus Penn State, Moore had a wide-open touchdown to Kenyon Sadiq on the corner route but quickly found the checkdown at the first hint of pressure.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of hint
Noun
  • But if this week is any indication, Wall Street may finally be coming back around to Benioff's side.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • If the season-two premiere is any indication, the series is primed to capitalize on that potential this year.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of indication
Noun
  • That loose definition now has a $500 billion financing target riding on it.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The definition excludes organizations that are an institutional part of a foreign government or wholly operated under a foreign government's direction.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of definition
Noun
  • Gates brushed aside the idea that his suggestions might draw pushback from the accelerationist voices in the tech industry.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Mixed response Gates made the same suggestion nearly a decade ago and was subject to robust criticism at the time.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of suggestion
Noun
  • Without a clear message from Warsh, investors began to doubt the Fed’s inflation-fighting resolve.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • And will teenagers simply migrate to other platforms outside the settlement’s reach, or into the direct messages the agreement itself exempts?
    — Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of message

Browse Nearby Words

connoisseurs
connotation
connotations
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Cite this Entry

“Connotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connotation. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on connotation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about connotation

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