as in implications
an idea or quality that is suggested by a word or thing
a word with positive connotations The word "childlike" has connotations of innocence.
Related Words
Relevance
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 connotations
While being essential tools, knives and axes have violent connotations, suggesting a history of violence and seve- rance.
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
There are enough negative connotations associated with the clubs for the NBA to be scared and to stop the Hawks’ plans.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
No image more so than Smith’s Invisible Hand, with its spooky, occult, and gothic connotations that strike me as precisely appropriate.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
But even as residents and visitors celebrated the Year of the Fire Horse, many were also celebrating a local who seemed to exemplify the symbol’s connotations of strength, speed and momentum — Olympian Alysa Liu.
—Christian Leonard, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
In this way, the bro construction exploits the vaguely negative connotations attached to masculinity in order to tar something else with the same brush.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Here, however, the connotations of an overeager creator whose outsized intentions come crashing down to earth seem accidental.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
The term fun parent comes with plenty of connotations (good and bad) and preconceived notions.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 15 Feb. 2026
Jade is a plant and a stone, with connotations of balance and healing and wellness in Eastern medicine.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
There are enough negative connotations associated with the clubs for the NBA to be scared and to stop the Hawks’ plans.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
No image more so than Smith’s Invisible Hand, with its spooky, occult, and gothic connotations that strike me as precisely appropriate.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
But even as residents and visitors celebrated the Year of the Fire Horse, many were also celebrating a local who seemed to exemplify the symbol’s connotations of strength, speed and momentum — Olympian Alysa Liu.
—Christian Leonard, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
In this way, the bro construction exploits the vaguely negative connotations attached to masculinity in order to tar something else with the same brush.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Here, however, the connotations of an overeager creator whose outsized intentions come crashing down to earth seem accidental.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
The term fun parent comes with plenty of connotations (good and bad) and preconceived notions.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 15 Feb. 2026
Jade is a plant and a stone, with connotations of balance and healing and wellness in Eastern medicine.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for connotations
Noun
-
The organization has parsed the implications of this teaching in the past.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Lambermont said that the growth of AI and data centers has major implications for economic growth in the coming years.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Simply put, if a human operator senses something is going wrong, the robot should react before the error escalates.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Its cars have fewer synthetic senses, lacking the radar and LiDAR sensors built into Waymos, Amazon’s Zoox vehicles, and other upcoming robotaxis.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Recently other meanings have been proposed, but in any reading the hundreds of human figures portrayed on the frieze represent a broad swath of Athenian citizenry.—
James Romm,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
-
There’s nothing remarkable here but the name itself, which stops you cold, and which contains multitudes, meanings and lessons, without even trying, as if coming across the grave of Huckleberry Finn or Sherlock Holmes.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kilmer’s role ties closely to the film’s cultural themes.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The series’ ad nauseam repetition, its pat dialogue laying bare its themes and episode titles reaffirming those ideas, feel like a desperate, and ultimately failed, attempt to prove to us — or maybe to itself — that Imperfect Women actually has something enlightening to say.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The detection of these molecules in an asteroid hints that they can be formed without the presence of life, and may offer clues into how these compounds could be transported across the solar system.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Again, there were hints in the data but no definitive conclusions.—
Mariangela Lisanti,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The National Rally's performances in municipal races will be studied for possible indications of whether the party of Marine Le Pen is gathering momentum in the lead-up to 2027, despite the possibility that she might be barred from challenging again for the presidency herself.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Preliminary indications show Norington died of injuries from the storms, the sheriff’s office said.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The list is far from definitive, so please leave your suggestions in the comments.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
There have been suggestions that Mike Leigh’s untitled film could be aiming for Cannes but this feels tight given it officially wrapped around February 11.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Colossal’s Response Chief scientist Beth Shapiro said debate over definitions misses the broader conservation potential of the technology.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Colossal’s chief scientist Beth Shapiro responded by arguing the debate over definitions misses the broader conservation potential.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Connotations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connotations. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
