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

Relevance
2
3
4
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

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

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 notion But Lamar's murder bucked that notion. Trymaine Lee, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025 Advertisement Advertisement In other words, this decision compounds one bad policy with another under the misguided notion that two wrongs make a right. Neale Mahoney, Time, 28 Aug. 2025 Kingsley, who is sharing an interview with Columbus, seems thrilled at the notion of doing more when the director speaks of it. EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Liz has run out of the patience needed to look after an overgrown infant, correcting Ron’s delusion that Jay sees them as part of his family by explaining that the notion of family for their client only goes one way. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for notion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notion
Noun
  • Crypto and alternative assets are no longer novelties; they’re seamlessly woven into modern financial habits.
    Murad Salikhov, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Who knew if these roles were flukes — one-offs, novelties — or if Jerry Adler would defy the odds stacked up against any actor, much less a sexagenarian new to the game, and continue to find work in his newfound profession.
    Howard Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • But in recent months, the rules have changed — not through an open, deliberative process but by the governor’s whim.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
  • That means proper stick shifting as per your whims – a true enthusiast’s car.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Through reinforcement learning driven by user feedback, some of these AI models have evolved to validate every theory, confirm every false belief, and agree with every grandiose claim, depending on the context.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The experience deepened her belief in kindness and empathy.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Unleashed Creativity and Innovation: Subconscious fears act as restrictions upon creativity; without these, the mind may become fertile ground for innovative ideas and solutions.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Progressives have advocated for every tax idea imaginable to fill the breach and have been stymied by legal and political impediments, particularly the inconvenient fact that most of their tax-the-rich schemes require state approval, which hasn’t been forthcoming.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Schiffer said Meghan had been too risk averse in the first two seasons, but could try to pitch a slightly different concept for a third season that pushed the boundaries far more.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The company tipped a concept washer and dryer with a robot vacuum built into the base, similar to Eureka's Dual Washing Bot announced at CES last year.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This is 22 percentage points lower than in August 2020 when 70 percent of Americans had a positive opinion about the court.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.
    Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While covering the game, Aikman took the time to share his thoughts on his former team.
    Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Can a single thought change the course of your day?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • However, men often weigh the potential social costs before speaking up, which can lead them to not engage or to reinforce gender stereotypes.
    Colleen Tolan, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Though gender stereotypes have persisted, Suni tells me that playing with LEGOs and doing gymnastics share a lot of common ground.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Notion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notion. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on notion

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!