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
-
Her high-visibility free dives with great whites have earned her the moniker Shark Whisperer, the title of a new Netflix film from the Academy Award-winning director of My Octopus Teacher, James Reed.—
Alexandra Gillespie,
Outside Online,
30 June 2025
-
President Donald Trump suggested changing the name of Defense Department back to its pre-World War II moniker as the War Department, after the success in bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
In 1689, Locke examined natural rights in the second treatise of Two Treatises on Government, but his first treatise established the full meaning of those rights.—
Time,
Time,
1 July 2025
-
April 2025 The Hierophant: April invites you to seek deeper meaning and wisdom from your life, Pisces.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Well, the elegance of my nomenclature is up for debate.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
-
Patrons—the official Masters nomenclature for spectators—have long jetted into Augusta for golf’s ritzy Spring major, with a sizeable contingent of affluent fans flying private.—
Mike Dojc,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Those who can surrender a sense of control and stay curious throughout this new journey will feel the most aligned.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
-
The clothes gave the sense that Jacobs and his team must have had a ball coming up with these creations.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
The information includes names, email, dates of birth and Qantas frequent flyer details.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Meanwhile…things haven’t looked so good for Starbucks in China recently, and not just because its baristas can’t spell names in Chinese characters, either.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
From discussing the cultural significance of luxury timepieces to beautifully showcasing black love, the SUEDE Men’s Experience is delivering authentic moments crafted perfectly for the contemporary man.—
John Lawson,
Essence,
7 July 2025
-
The significance of Ventura’s lawsuit will extend far beyond the trial, Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, previously told CNN.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
McCormack, one of the heroes of KU’s NCAA title game victory over North Carolina in 2022, averaged 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while playing for Alba Berlin (Germany) in the Euroleague this past season.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2025
-
Those collections have become the focus for millions of listeners, especially on streaming platforms, which largely keep those titles alive.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2025
-
Previously, Lucia was the director of digital content at FOX61 News in Connecticut and has previously written for outlets including FoxNews.com, Fox News Latino and the Rutland Herald.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Denotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denotation. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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