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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of denotation
Controlled denotations were conducted Sunday at the site to dispose of hazardous materials, the agency said.
—
Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025
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
Cleverly staging appearance as disappearance, connotation serves as denotation.
—Jerrine Tan, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022
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
Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025
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
Cleverly staging appearance as disappearance, connotation serves as denotation.
—Jerrine Tan, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denotation
Noun
-
The spurious designation of Qassem Soleimani as a global terrorist, something long requested by Benjamin Netanyahu, gave the green light for the expansion of the designation to other entities long held off from the moniker out of fear of its implications.—
Séamus Malekafzali,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Can an equitable, sustainable and transparent system be established to facilitate athletes monetizing their intellectual property rights, or does the Wild West moniker remain true while boosters and private equity play an outsized role?—
Eddie Edwards Jr,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And, even, what does this say about the meaning of life?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Things that have no meaning became meaningful.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Both Taylor Ham and Pork Roll, whose dueling nomenclature is apparently a Jersey-style source of contention, will also be served.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Briggs believes that the reputation of the ‘Twilight Zone’ stems partly from its nomenclature.—
Matt Roller,
New York Times,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
So there's really no choice but for the four major conference commissioners to compile a set of rules and guidelines that make at least a marginal bit of sense.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Create a sense of order by clearing those surfaces of holiday-specific decor.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
HotHands is the most recognizable name in disposable warmers for a reason.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
-
This year’s list of candidates previously lacked huge names like last year’s headliners, Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some researchers have cast doubt on the significance of the study due to its small size.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Rosado is expected to address the significance of the developments for South Florida and the broader region.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Head coach Jeremiah Behrendsen CBS Behrendsen credits the title to a team built on belief, discipline and an unshakable culture.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Dickson and 2023 Boise Open champion Chan Kim are the only players in Korn Ferry Tour history to win without making a bogey, Dickson won his third title on the tour in his 100th start.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Drink probiotic sodas with high contents of fiber.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Persun says her community didn't push back against her shift into new content spaces, and in turn, her audience expanded.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denotation. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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