1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

denotations

noun

plural of denotation
1
as in monikers
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 meanings
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of denotations Controlled denotations were conducted Sunday at the site to dispose of hazardous materials, the agency said. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denotations
  1. monikers
  2. meanings
  3. names
  4. senses
  5. titles
  6. contents
  7. epithets
  8. connotations
Noun
  • Though rumors suggested the device might be the iPhone Ultra, Apple likely opted for the Duo name to keep it short and snappy, aligning it with its other monikers, such as Air, Neo, and Pro.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026
  • If the two Death Valleys required decades of heat, winning, noise, folklore and linguistic drift to establish their names, another of college football’s most enduring monikers arrived with far less mystery.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of monikers
Noun
  • The name Adepoju translates to meanings of royalty and abundance in the Nigerian Yoruba language.
    — PJ Green September 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Much of the text is in verse and packed with double meanings.
    — Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of meanings
Noun
  • Reilly’s September 10 report found consensus estimates for S&P 500 earnings growth now matching dot-com-era peaks, concentrated overwhelmingly in technology and semiconductor names.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Working with some of the hottest names, a list that includes Celine, Bottega Veneta, Loewe and The Row, has given her a front-row seat to the evolution.
    — WWD Staff, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of names
Noun
  • The plant contains mescaline, a psychoactive compound that alters perception and mood, sharpening the senses and amplifying feelings of empathy and connection.
    — Pardis Mahdavi, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Walking through the rest of the Javits Center outside of the backstage area and 40/40 Club, however, was like having all your senses punched in the face.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of senses
Noun
  • His first three teams in Los Angeles won championships behind the dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, and the Lakers added two more titles in 2009 and 2010 led by Bryant and Pau Gasol.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But this was one of the most dominant individual campaigns in a season where collective effort won the biggest titles.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of titles
Noun
  • The contents of the exosomes of those with post-herpetic neuralgia had significantly higher concentrations of proteins known to suppress the growth of neurons.
    — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Its statement did not address the contents of the video or the merits of the lawsuit.
    — Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of contents
Noun
  • The raid drew criticism over separating families, and a group of Idahoans sued, saying officers hurled racial epithets and largely withheld water, food, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hochman detailed a number of prosecutions, including the sentence of one man to a life sentence plus seven years with the possibility of parole for a March 23 attack, during which racial epithets were uttered.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of epithets
Noun
  • But, of course, an airport carries fewer negative connotations than Tennessee’s eternally controversial state legislature.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
  • These positive connotations associated with scientific research help the AI industry signal altruism while downplaying their profit-making ambitions.
    — Matthew Sun, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of connotations

Browse Nearby Words

denotation
denotations
denotative
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Denotations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denotations. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All