Synonyms of notion

notion

noun

ˈnō-shən 

1

as in novelties

notions plural small useful items

the fabric store had a wide variety of thread, pins, buttons, and other notions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• novelties
• gadgets
• variety
• odds and ends
• sundries
• etceteras
• geegaws
• baubles
• gewgaws
• trinkets
• knickknacks
• hodgepodge
• nicknacks
• bric-a-brac
• jiggers
• gimmicks
• miscellany

2

as in whim

a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action

I have a notion to go in-line skating this afternoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• whim
• vagary
• whimsy
• thought
• whimsey
• vagrancy
• bee
• humor
• fantasy
• caprice
• impression
• concept
• fancy
• image
• maggot
• kink
• megrim
• crank
• freak
• phantasy
• conception
• bee in one's bonnet
• fancifulness
• capriciousness
• picture
• whimsicality
• conceit
• freakishness
• impetuosity
• inspiration
• brainstorm
• mind's eye

3

as in belief

an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge

has this naive notion that most people are basically honest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• belief
• opinion
• mind
• view
• feeling
• attitude
• impression
• conviction
• sentiment
• idea
• judgement
• verdict
• judgment
• perception
• assumption
• observation
• thought
• eye
• comment
• concept
• persuasion
• theory
• hypothesis
• presumption
• decision
• suggestion
• guess
• estimate
• advice
• conception
• estimation
• viewpoint
• say
• determination
• presupposition
• faith
• remark
• stance
• conjecture
• conclusion
• recommendation
• hunch
• esteem
• perspective
• reflection
• position
• standpoint
• credence
• stand
• input
• credit
• take
• angle
• surmise
• outlook
• deliverance
• shoes
• obiter dictum
• counterview
• slant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fact
• truth

4

as in idea

something imagined or pictured in the mind

that modernistic building does not match my notion of what a country cottage should look like

Synonyms & Similar Words

• idea
• concept
• thought
• conception
• impression
• image
• abstraction
• picture
• perception
• cogitation
• intellection
• observation
• theory
• assumption
• belief
• reflection
• hunch
• hypothesis
• illusion
• preconception
• mind's eye
• apprehension
• presentiment
• premonition
• prejudice
• delusion
• speculation
• cognition
• chimera
• conceit
• whim
• conviction
• conjecture
• prepossession
• vagary
• guess
• hallucination
• phantasm
• supposition
• surmise
• conclusion
• fantasm
• caprice
• fancy
• kink
• inspiration
• brainchild
• brain wave
• freak
• brainstorm

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fact
• reality
• actuality

5

as in concept

an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation

the popular notion that college athletes are airheads

Synonyms & Similar Words

• concept
• stereotype
• conception
• theory
• hypothesis
• generalization
• saying
• generality
• cliché
• truism
• proposition
• cliche
• platitude
• commonplace
• adage
• bromide
• saw
• proverb
• oversimplification
• simplification
• simplism

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun notion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of notion are conception, concept, idea, impression, 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)," 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 concept a more appropriate choice than notion?

The words concept and notion can be used in similar contexts, but 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 do conception and concept relate to one another, in the sense of notion?

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 might idea be a better fit than notion?

While in some cases nearly identical to notion, 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

Where would impression be a reasonable alternative to notion?

The words impression and notion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

When can thought be used instead of notion?

In some situations, the words thought and notion are roughly equivalent. However, thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of notion

But there are more questions than answers about the notion of Disney and its Marvel, Lucasfilm and Pixar stable suddenly being on the back foot. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025

The notion of a man of Ballmer’s wealth — $153 billion; most in professional sports and top 10 on the planet — being able to procure and retain elite talent through surreptitious ways is the worst nightmare for fans of the league’s other 29 teams. —Sam Amick, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

Kirk, the group maintains, also promoted Christian nationalism, the notion that Christians should dominate government and other aspects of life in the United States. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025

Who lacks any observable notion of grand strategy — that is, of a plausible plan to Keep America Great and achieve peace through strength. —Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025