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
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
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
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
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
-
No word as to when the new moniker would go into effect.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The common names of many of the poisonous Amanita mushrooms include foreboding monikers like death cap mushroom and destroying angel.—
Matt Kasson,
Popular Science,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And while the color itself is a mix of almond milk and espresso, Steinfeld also opted for an elegant mid-length almond shape, adding a second meaning to the moniker.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Frame the experience of caregiving as sacred and as a way to search for personal meaning from a larger perspective.—
Kat McGowan,
NPR,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
No last-minute deal being reached, the spending law funding the U.S. government lapsed at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 and the federal government, in the common nomenclature, is shutting down.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Despite its Air Jordan nomenclature, the mule does not feature Air technology.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Eliminating the need for manual adjustments—whether for meals or for any other changes during the day—would give people with diabetes a tremendous sense of freedom.—
Carrie Arnold,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
-
That choice can shape your income, your sense of purpose, and the arc of your career.—
Suzy Welch,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The group published their ideas, known early on as neoplasticism (Nieuwe Beelding), through the magazine De Stijl, whose title eventually became the popular name of their movement.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Oct. 2025
-
That group of names included New York Jets running back Breece Hall, and Locker named the Chiefs among his top landing spots.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
California isn’t the first jurisdiction to pass laws like these, but Newsom’s signings carry significance due to the size of the state’s population and the fact that many tech companies are based in the San Francisco Bay Area.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
-
In his speech, the president recognized the historic significance of the day, and praised members of his inner circle for their role in the peace deal.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The title theme’s steadily ascending line, mirroring the claustrophobic tension within the sub, became a signature motif.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Those ports can be used to play additional titles and, with the right adapter, to connect original Intellivision controllers.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Then-Media School Dean James Shanahan rebutted the assertion, saying the school had never sought to influence the paper's content.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Julia Marcum is the founder of Chris Loves Julia, a home renovation content creation and inspiration brand.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Denotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denotation. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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