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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

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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 Naperville Central sophomore pitcher Avery Miller seconds that notion. Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 Success allowed these stars to leave behind the old-fashioned notions of how a woman in country music should look and dress. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025 Dozens of Arab and Muslim-majority countries have rejected the notion as ethnic cleansing. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Mar. 2025 Many people aren’t comfortable with the notion yet, including trusting it, and even more find the concept hard to grasp. Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for notion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notion
Noun
  • TiVo and DVRs helped even more, but you were still limited by the scheduling whims of networks and hard-drive space.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Our daughters’ rights and privacy should not be subject to ideological whims.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But Sarah Harris, the Justice Department attorney who helped defend the parents’ position, said the county has put price on public education at the expense of parents forgoing their religious beliefs.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • So our belief — that’s shared by David — is to make more movies, and make different kinds of movies.
    Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Another good idea before kicking off an exercise routine: For activities that involve spinal twisting and bending, talk with your physical therapist to get tips on proper form.
    Alice Oglethorpe, SELF, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Deporting supposed gang members and Hamas supporters without due process may violate any number of statutes, but forcing oppositionists to defend these people’s rights allows the administration to paint them as defending their ideas.
    Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The concept also seems to have a lot of runway to growth, something Susquehanna’s investment helped with immediately.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Trump is challenged by the concept of a free press.
    Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In Wells’ opinion, that ability has been the most remarkable thing about him thus far.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • To drive home that point, Justice Samuel Alito wrote an 11-page concurring opinion devoted to the Blaine Amendment and anti-Catholic bias.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The increasing prevalence and potential for invasion of privacy (of our thoughts, no less) has prompted lawmakers in some jurisdictions to take action.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The post is replete with myths and false transphobic stereotypes, particularly revolving around the narratives that gender and biology are inextricable and that trans women are dangerous.
    Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Faculty/alumni The old stereotype of the out-of-touch, tweed-wearing egghead, spending their life lecturing on the lesser plays of Ben Jonson, is itself out of touch.
    Ars Staff, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Trust in Trump’s economy slips, new poll finds Many Americans voted with their wallets front of mind during the 2024 presidential election.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Here's what to keep in mind when storing your fresh bread on the counter.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Notion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notion. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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