Synonym Chooser

How is the word inception distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of inception are origin, root, and source. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

When could origin be used to replace inception?

The words origin and inception are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being.

an investigation into the origin of baseball

When is root a more appropriate choice than inception?

The synonyms root and inception are sometimes interchangeable, but root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

When can source be used instead of inception?

While the synonyms source and inception are close in meaning, source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

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 inception The revenue shortfall experienced by Social Security is almost entirely the product of rising economic inequality in the U.S. At Social Security’s inception, the payroll tax was set at a rate that would cover about 92% of taxable wage earnings. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 The international expansion comes after Anti Social Social Club had largely stuck to its direct-to-consumer, drop model since its inception. Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 13 June 2025 Fellows, who is a Gilroy native, says the event has pumped $12 million back into the community since its inception. Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025 Since its inception, the CHNV program allowed over 500,000 individuals to enter the United States. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for inception
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inception
Noun
  • After missing four games due to a concussion and an illness at the beginning of June, Bueckers has been on a tear.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
  • Where To Spend, Who To Support From its humble beginnings to becoming a worldwide celebration, Pride has always been political.
    Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Their route to walking across the stage to receive a diploma might have taken some detours and extra years, but the joy in earning a high school diploma or equivalency certificate was evident at the Poway Adult School’s 60th annual commencement ceremony.
    Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
  • Video shows Oh asking every attendee to stand up and participate from the commencement stage to the bleachers.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Shohei Ohtani pitched one hitless inning in his second mound start of the season before hitting a three-run triple and a two-run homer, and Max Muncy had a grand slam and a three-run homer in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 13-7 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
    Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
  • Shohei Ohtani, who will make his second pitching start of the season Sunday afternoon, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
    Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • In the five years prior to the onset of the pandemic, the overall crime rate sat between 8 and 9.5 acts per 1,000 students.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
  • Since then, city leaders added hundreds of new employees and, since the onset of the COVID pandemic, relied on one-time funding to balance the books.
    Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • In contrast, Iran’s unprecedented launch of hundreds of missiles and drones deliberately targets Israeli civilians — firing at major cities, neighborhoods and population centers, aiming to murder as many innocent people as possible — Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.
    Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
  • Anderson Cooper was forced to evacuate while filming live in Tel Aviv after an alarm warned of an upcoming missile launch from Iran.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • The journey is a perilous and illuminating one, as Jamie and Isla encounter hordes of infected, as well as an alpha, a hulking and seemingly intelligent evolution of the infected.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 23 June 2025
  • Whether this alpha prototype leads to genuine commercial deployment or joins the long list of impressive robotics demonstrations that failed to find market applications will determine not just Humanoid's fate, but potentially the trajectory of the entire humanoid robotics sector.
    Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inception.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inception. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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