1
as in moniker
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known
"soul" is the common denotation for that mysterious force within the human body that gives it life and yet is separate from it
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2
as in meaning
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action
although most people exercise for fitness, the denotation of the term "fitness" varies from exerciser to exerciser
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Recent Examples of denotation
How much control, at this point, the subcommittee can exert over emoji denotation and connotation isn’t clear.
—
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 June 2025
But the New Zealand Department of Conservation lists the reptiles as at risk — relict, a denotation reserved for species that declined to a small population but have since stabilized.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2024
Language, unlike code, has connotations and denotations that make organizing it for human consumption a much more complex task, says Dr. Harbin.
—Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2024
What does 4/20 mean? April 20, or 4/20 in its calendar denotation, is a holiday celebrated by many weed-smokers both in the United States and around the globe.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2023
Deaths are included if a person has a positive COVID-19 test and a death certificate denotation, a record of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that progress from illness to death, or a determination by the medical examiner’s office that there is no other cause of death, Trimble said.
—Dallas News, 5 Aug. 2020
Cleverly staging appearance as disappearance, connotation serves as denotation.
—Jerrine Tan, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022
The word hacker itself seems to carry a whiff of punk rebellion, its implied sophistication contrasting with a denotation of smashing and severing.
—Darryn King, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2020
Through this preaching, white dominance in political, judicial, and economic affairs became denotations of the will of the universe instead of means of racial control.
—Jared Yates Sexton, The New Republic, 25 Mar. 2020
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 June 2025
But the New Zealand Department of Conservation lists the reptiles as at risk — relict, a denotation reserved for species that declined to a small population but have since stabilized.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2024
Language, unlike code, has connotations and denotations that make organizing it for human consumption a much more complex task, says Dr. Harbin.
—Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2024
What does 4/20 mean? April 20, or 4/20 in its calendar denotation, is a holiday celebrated by many weed-smokers both in the United States and around the globe.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2023
Deaths are included if a person has a positive COVID-19 test and a death certificate denotation, a record of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that progress from illness to death, or a determination by the medical examiner’s office that there is no other cause of death, Trimble said.
—Dallas News, 5 Aug. 2020
Cleverly staging appearance as disappearance, connotation serves as denotation.
—Jerrine Tan, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022
The word hacker itself seems to carry a whiff of punk rebellion, its implied sophistication contrasting with a denotation of smashing and severing.
—Darryn King, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2020
Through this preaching, white dominance in political, judicial, and economic affairs became denotations of the will of the universe instead of means of racial control.
—Jared Yates Sexton, The New Republic, 25 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denotation
Noun
-
And should Cal Raleigh, the breakout MLB star with a nickname beloved by baseball fans, be profiting off his Big Dumper moniker?—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
It's also eliminated seven street names, either for new monikers or because the streets themselves no longer exist.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
What started as a financial lifeline soon took on deeper meaning.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The scene, loaded with meaning from Conrad’s peach allergy to his carefully wiping peach juice from Belly’s chin, marks a major moment.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Those familiar with the nomenclature of meteorites will already be aware from the NWA prefix that it was found in North West Africa, but to be more specific, it was found in Niger’s remote Agadez region of the Sahara desert by a professional meteorite hunter.—
Mike Hanlon
July 03,
New Atlas,
3 July 2025
-
Surgeons employ a precise classification and nomenclature system to characterize scoliosis, tailoring their approach based on the patient’s age, the type of scoliosis and the underlying cause driving its development.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
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In that sense, the suit is different from other lawsuits that have argued that AI training alone constitutes infringement.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
-
In that sense, how did your creative approach change going into this record versus records of the past?—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This year, however, festival director Paul Ridd, in his sophomore year at the helm, has compiled, along with his growing team, an intriguing lineup packed with high-profile names from across the industry, many of whom rarely speak or appear publicly.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Aug. 2025
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From the school’s name to Wednesday’s raven-style psychometry, Burton and company tapped into the dreary lore with delight.—
Daron James,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In the wake of the loss, the new album’s significance in her life has grown stronger.—
Jack Irvin,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
In October, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission recommended the City Council deny the more recent request for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the Judge Barry House, based on findings about the building’s significance and architecture.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Despite the bitter ending, the Ascent led the league in goals scored (45), and won the regular-season title.—
Emma Moon,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Aug. 2025
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Very few details were given about the project, but that didn’t stop the title from trending online.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The data centers that fuel AI have already gobbled up all of the content on just about every website visible on the internet.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
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The couple brought their architect, Sebastiano Pisana, who knows the town well, to consult on the contents.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Denotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denotation. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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