NOTION Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

notion

noun

ˈnō-shən

Definition of notion

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

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fact
truth

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 In doing so, Congress would be retreating from the notion that Medicare can control how many services physicians provide on a national basis, an idea that has undergirded Medicare’s doctor payments for decades. — John Wilkerson, STAT, 24 Sep. 2026 But some experts say the notion of bots overtaking the entire extremely bifurcated internet is far-fetched. — Barbara Ortutay, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 But the notion of bots overtaking the extremely bifurcated internet is far-fetched to some AI experts. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Who knows if the real Chris Hansen felt compelled to articulate that notion on the way to celebrity. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for notion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for notion

Noun

Founded in 2019, Whatnot built its audience on novelties and collectibles.

— Ryan Baker, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Other novelties included Kiss Kiss, reinvented in 2005 with Hervé Can der Straeten, and Rouge G, reinvented with Lorenz Bäumer featuring the famed double-mirror case.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of novelties

Noun

The world’s richest entrepreneurs have watched their net worths skyrocket and plummet at the whim of the stock market.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
There are many reasons the United States needs clear, stable regulations on artificial intelligence, rather than relying on the whims of a leader.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of whim

Noun

Political opinions become more certain than the underlying beliefs.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
The Bears are currently 10-point favorites, and Colorado has not done much of anything since 2024 to instill belief that Coach Deion can build a winner in Boulder.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of belief

Noun

For decades, magnetic data storage has depended on the general idea of using a magnetic field to flip tiny regions of a material between states representing 1s and 0s.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
That idea has grown into a major employment pipeline for Walmart’s Private Fleet.

— Alice Barlow, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of idea

Noun

Back in 2003, Merz introduced his famous tax return on a beer coaster concept, envisioning a simplified tax system where ordinary households could calculate their due taxes on a piece of paper the size of a beer coaster.

— , CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Rob, Ajon and I were interested in pushing the concept of the biopic to its furthest reaches, closer to creative narrative nonfiction, like the great works of David Foster Wallace.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of concept

Noun

The Capricorn Moon squares Mercury in your sign, making family expectations, tradition, or someone else’s opinion feel louder than usual.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Jurors must be able to deliberate candidly without fearing that every argument, compromise or expressed opinion will later become evidence in litigation.

— Monu Bedi, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of opinion

Noun

Trotting out this try-hard trifecta of confusing, uninspired installments in a year that’s seen so many entertaining, thought-provoking additions to the horror genre?

— Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026
As the left field bullpen doors swung open before the start of the ninth inning, Chicago Cubs right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn began his trot to the mound with one thought.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of thought

Noun

The stereotype of an introverted software developer, siloed in an office far removed from the rest of the organization, will become a thing of the past.

— Alberto Lugo, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
And there is a popular stereotype out there that scientists are like these cold computers, and that has sometimes been my experience, but more often the opposite of my experience.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of stereotype

Browse Nearby Words

noting

notion

notional

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Style

“Notion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notion. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of notion

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