impression

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun impression contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of impression are conception, concept, idea, 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)," impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

When might concept be a better fit than impression?

While in some cases nearly identical to impression, 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 impression?

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 idea be a good substitute for impression?

While the synonyms idea and impression are close in meaning, 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 notion be used instead of impression?

In some situations, the words notion and impression are roughly equivalent. However, notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

Where would thought be a reasonable alternative to impression?

Although the words thought and impression have much in common, 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 impression Firm employees gave families the opposite impression, according to stipulation. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025 Hair is a key feature in first impressions, often being the third most noticeable characteristic after the smile and eyes. Nia Bowers, USA Today, 17 June 2025 The impression made Bibb and Hager burst into laughter. Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 17 June 2025 That gives the impression, in the stage production, that Clooney’s Murrow is going toe to toe with the real-life McCarthy. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for impression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impression
Noun
  • Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve Studio impress on all of these fronts, but there are still some differences between them that might lead you to prefer one over the other.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 9 June 2025
  • But, should Neave impress during pre-season, the head coach may even decide to keep him around the first-team setup longer term.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • If your idea of a good country getaway requires a stop by an antique mall, then add the Blue Moon Antique Mall and Bookstore to your list.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • Whether that's a good idea, storytelling-wise, doesn't really matter in the great content machine that is Netflix (and, to be fair, all the other streamers, too).
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Deliver a title and his imprint on this city and state will forever be stamped.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • Reprinted by permission of Pantheon Books, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Hernandez admits Medicaid cuts could give people here second thoughts.
    John Daley, NPR, 22 June 2025
  • Turn thoughts into words: Advanced software figures out what the user wants to say or do and translates it into speech, text or digital commands.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • The brand's one-pieces and bikinis are vibrant and fun, with a rainbow of colors and whimsical prints that are far more unique and surprising than your classic pieces.
    Malia Griggs, Glamour, 20 June 2025
  • In typical Vivienne Westwood fashion, the collection will play with light fabrics and an array of colors and prints.
    Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Within this exact conflict is where Antigravity Academy finds the concept of camp so important.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 20 June 2025
  • Yet, the concept of coercive control remains relatively limited in courts.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Such links were particularly pronounced when exposure occurred during the month before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy, researchers reported in the study, published in Environmental Science & Technology.
    Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 23 June 2025
  • So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time A sequel, 28 Weeks Later…, dropped in 2007; Boyle and Garland signed on executive producers, but neither were directly involved with the conception of it beyond that.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • The 10-round cruiserweight affair ended in Paul’s sixth consecutive victory but did little to quell the notion that the YouTuber-turned-boxer is building his in-ring reputation with a fraudulent resume built on defeating big names many years removed from their heydays.
    Mark Puleo, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • The overall operations swiftly moved from the notion of targeting dangerous criminal immigrants to everyday workers and laborers — who may or may not have proper documentation — trying to make a living, and overriding local officials along the way.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Impression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impression. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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