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.
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Recent Examples of connotations
One is the denial that the word has any homophobic connotations, a notion that does not stand up to scrutiny.
—
Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Some hide Santa Muerte altars at home from relatives and friends because of the negative connotations.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Pavers or concrete designed to mimic natural stone slabs visually break up the surface, staving off parking lot connotations.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
Morrison’s emphasis is on simultaneous movement, on responsiveness, on transport, a word with both mystical and practical connotations.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Did the connotations of travelling with Spirit carry a sense of embarrassment?
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Seven had religious connotations.
—Christopher Derose, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Therefore, whereas modern mindfulness might diverge from older iterations of the concept and its connotations and practices, this fact does not automatically invalidate it as an outgrowth of the Buddhist tree.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
While for some, black holds negative connotations of sadness, the color is also associated with authority, power, strength, and sophistication.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Some hide Santa Muerte altars at home from relatives and friends because of the negative connotations.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Pavers or concrete designed to mimic natural stone slabs visually break up the surface, staving off parking lot connotations.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
Morrison’s emphasis is on simultaneous movement, on responsiveness, on transport, a word with both mystical and practical connotations.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Did the connotations of travelling with Spirit carry a sense of embarrassment?
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Seven had religious connotations.
—Christopher Derose, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Therefore, whereas modern mindfulness might diverge from older iterations of the concept and its connotations and practices, this fact does not automatically invalidate it as an outgrowth of the Buddhist tree.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
While for some, black holds negative connotations of sadness, the color is also associated with authority, power, strength, and sophistication.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for connotations
Noun
-
Lisowski’s punchy new essay collection, Uncanny Valley Girls, homes in on the horror genre and its grander implications.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Schools rushed to stand up their own nonprofit NIL collectives in the past few years, only to rush to re-structure (or shutter) them once the tax implications became clear.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The Tank Kallan Dana’s hilarious and curious (in both senses) memory play was an unsentimentally wrenching study of fixation — how certain people and stories get their claws into us and never let go.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
4 Dec. 2025
-
If only everyone else would come to their senses, these guys would be managing billions of dollars and all would be right with the world.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Old words are fabricated with new meanings.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
26 Nov. 2025
-
With its tongue way up its cheek, this zero-fat survival thriller is not bulked up with gratuitous sociological mumbo jumbo or layered with hidden meanings.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In part, that’s because for much of the history of the three main themes of the anti-vaccine case, there was always at least some truth, something plausible, in these long-standing objections to vaccination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Melancholic and intimate, the performer (Haylee Nichele) silently guided me to become comfortable in my discomfort, to sit with the evening’s themes of longing, loss, confusion and impending grief.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Today’s Quordle hints and answers are just ahead.—
Kris Holt,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Blanche may have denied before Congress that the weaponization fund was moving ahead, but others have been less categorical, dropping hints that payouts remain in play.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Hussey participated in spring practice and the spring game, but — from all indications — did not crack the top four at safety during spring practice.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
Early indications are… not so well.—
Filip Bondy,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Want to send thoughts or suggestions to Fortune Tech?—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
16 June 2026
-
Google says Magic Cue suggestions will expand beyond Google’s messaging app to Snapchat, Telegram, and Instagram.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Risk pulls the logs and finds that the agent answering exposure questions is using retail lending language that does not match Basel definitions.—
Praveen Satyanarayana,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
And Americans' definitions of a comfortable middle-class lifestyle have grown, Suhay says.—
Sarah Jackson,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Connotations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connotations. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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