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
-
Dunham’s husband and co-creator Luis Felber is a musician, who performs under the moniker Attawalpa.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
-
McClain's moniker is named after Bernie Madoff, the former Nasdaq chairman who masterminded the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history by defrauding thousands of investors.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
That term can have a number of meanings, and even though Carr has suggested a proceeding to define it, that hasn’t happened.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
-
The question of the meaning of life continues unabated.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
It’s thought that this nomenclature probably resulted from the fact that the vine looks quite unkempt when left untrained, yet other scholars believe that the wild side of the name comes from the wine’s characteristic aromas.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
3 July 2025
-
Well, the elegance of my nomenclature is up for debate.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Such easy overlap between juror and filmmaker speaks to a wider festival goal toward building a real sense of community within the genre world.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
14 July 2025
-
These questions are helping businesses turn everyday items into brand moments and, in some cases, into movements created through commonality and a sense of community. 5.—
Douglas Gregory,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The Trump Administration’s executive orders on nuclear energy gut regulation in the name of efficiency and cost-cuts.—
Time,
Time,
15 July 2025
-
Buckwheat 6 grams per cup cooked; gluten-free; complete protein Despite its name, buckwheat, which originated in central and western China, isn’t actually related to wheat.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
For You The significance of the change in QSBS provisions goes beyond the founders, investors, and venture-capital firms involved in startups.—
Bruce Brumberg,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Brazilians considered the capital city, which replaced Rio de Janeiro, a symbol of the nation’s future significance on the world stage.—
Emi Eleode,
Time,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Even for a team like the Thunder, who just won a title, NBA Summer League is essential.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
Cycle 14: Krista White Originally from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Krista White auditioned for ANTM 12 times before joining the cycle 14 cast and ultimately winning the title.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
23 July 2025
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Rice’s portfolio as an executive includes dozens of Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations across thousands of hours of content.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Denotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denotation. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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