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 Throughout the financial troubles that the couple face given Fyodor’s inability to deliver pages, Szumowska and Englert feature scatological humor that further dissolves any notions of elegance associated with 19th-century Europe. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 Our ideas of surrogacy are based on a patriarchal notion that the essence of the baby is in the seed. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026 But for those who still believe in the quaint notion that justice is blind, Belichick should already have spilled lobster butter on his gold Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket by now. — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026 But Onslaught doesn’t interrogate or even look at the military industrial complex with much interest beyond the notion that its fictional super soldiers were created to be unleashed upon civilian populaces. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 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 widespread belief was Clippers general manager Trent Redden would fill that role, but the team has not publicly revealed its plans.

— Law Murray, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The same poll found belief that data centers raise electricity bills jumped from 43% in January to nearly 60% by July—six months before Apollo or Morgan Stanley published a word of this research.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of belief

Noun

The new experiment tested those competing ideas by deliberately weakening the electron interactions.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
But the head of Germany’s central bank, who is also a member of the European Central Bank Governing Council, said Melenchon’s debt cancelation idea would be forbidden under the currency bloc’s rules and could lead to hyperinflation.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of idea

Noun

Several other concepts have closed in Park Place within the past few months, including Panache Chocolatier; Session Taco’s spinoff, LaPez ModMex; French restaurant Aixois Sud; and Bamboo Penny’s sister concept, Aqua Penny’s.

— Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
Cuvee Club will exist within the Granite Bay location of Mimosa House, and is a sister restaurant to Italian concept Vacanza Romana.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of concept

Noun

There has been a widespread opinion that football has become too rigid and regimented in recent seasons, but Luis Enrique’s PSG are one of the few antidotes to that.

— Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
No one, in my opinion, comes close to this selfish, foul-mouthed and stupid showman.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of opinion

Noun

For one thing covetousness, as opposed to the more concrete sins like theft or murder or adultery, is a thought crime, and almost all that goes on here, happens within the minds of the characters.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
Halftime thoughts The Hurricanes go into halftime with a 28-6 lead on Stanford.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of thought

Noun

Starting in the 1960s, at a time when women were largely limited to domestic roles, Steinem challenged gender stereotypes and championed feminist ideals like equality, sisterhood and reproductive freedom.

— Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
While the stereotype says men hunt more than women, Holly has found the reverse is as often true among her friends.

— Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of stereotype

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notion

notional

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Style

“Notion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notion. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of notion

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