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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun idea contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of idea are conception, concept, impression, notion, and thought. While all these words mean "what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan)," idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas
my idea of paradise

When can concept be used instead of idea?

While the synonyms concept and idea are close in meaning, concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

How are the words conception and concept related as synonyms of idea?

Conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

When would impression be a good substitute for idea?

The meanings of impression and idea largely overlap; however, impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

Where would notion be a reasonable alternative to idea?

The synonyms notion and idea are sometimes interchangeable, but notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

When is it sensible to use thought instead of idea?

The words thought and idea can be used in similar contexts, but thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

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 idea Pop culture moments For those who are looking to channel current events for their Halloween costume, pop culture and other viral moments in 2025 offer plenty of ideas. Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025 Consider your budget before selecting a destination and talk to a small-ship travel advisor to get an idea of the region’s typical costs. Mary Curry, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025 Linklater chuckled at this idea and offered his own counter-perspective. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025 So much of this idea of water in relationship to the kid, in one way, is to [represent] suffocating and drowning, and in another way, being baptized and turning into a man, essentially, and figuring out what that means. Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for idea
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idea
Noun
  • The concept is raising concerns that the bloc is still too slow in improving its deterrence options, however.
    Silvia Amaro, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Engineers from Polytechnique Montréal have unveiled a new parachute concept based on kirigami, the Japanese art of folding and cutting.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • What Kentucky House Bill 90 does Freestanding birthing centers, which have soared in popularity around the country in recent years, are separate from hospitals, providing a midwifery model of care with a focus on labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period.
    Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Tropical Storm Octave spaghetti models Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Personality and purpose Upon entering the home, the first room one notices is Catherine's spacious office, which sits just to the left of the front door.
    Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • While the Sixers theoretically have four centers, one is the brittle Joel Embiid, two are youngsters who haven’t clearly established themselves yet (Adem Bona and Johni Broome) and the other is a near-the-end Andre Drummond, who might also be traded for tax purposes.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The group said Tennessee's youth ranked 42nd in the country for mental health issues in a study that tracked 15 health criteria from substance abuse to thoughts of suicide.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Sep. 2025
  • From wheat farmers in Washington state to Forest Service workers in Montana to business leaders in Mississippi, average Americans offer their thoughts on where the country is headed.
    September 28, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is designed to protect investors and keep financial markets fair, is one of more than two doen agencies that are legally similar to the FCC.
    Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In Geneva, for example, a nuclear invention from CERN researchers in the early 2000s led to the founding of a novel cancer treatment, and ultimately, to its $4 billion acquisition by Novartis.
    Peter Vanham, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • His plan is to pose as a Fish & Wildlife agent, there to question Catalina’s husband about poaching … and then what?
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Here's how Nike's quarterly performance fits into CEO Elliott Hill's broader turnaround plan.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In addition, data showed those who switched to self-employment had previously earned more than peers who were paid employees, contrasting with notions that they were pushed into starting their own business.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The notion that vaccines cause autism was born out of a fraudulent 1998 study, hypothesizing that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine caused intestinal inflammation, which, in turn, led to the development of autism.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The launch of Red Chimichurri closely follows Chipotle’s September return of Carne Asada, a fan-favorite protein offered for a limited time and promoted as the ideal pairing for the new sauce.
    Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Target dropped dozens of blankets, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and socks, ideal for a celebratory viewing of the show.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Idea.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idea. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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