thought 1 of 2

thought

2 of 2

verb

past tense of think

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun thought contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of thought are conception, concept, idea, impression, and notion. 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)," thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

When might concept be a better fit than thought?

The words concept and thought are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 thought?

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 is it sensible to use idea instead of thought?

Although the words idea and thought have much in common, 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

When would impression be a good substitute for thought?

The synonyms impression and thought are sometimes interchangeable, but impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

In what contexts can notion take the place of thought?

While in some cases nearly identical to thought, notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

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 thought
Noun
Suicide rates for youth also are down nationwide, as are self-reports of suicidal thoughts and attempts, according to a national survey of children between 12 and 17. Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025 Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images During Fox NFL Sunday, Michael Strahan and Gronkowski shared their thoughts about Rodgers heading into his latest season. Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
And increasing floods linked to climate change are thought to be washing the creatures further and further afield. Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025 Ciardi, a former professional baseball pitcher, had produced a few major sports films and thought Flynt’s story would make an ideal movie. Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thought
Noun
  • In the midst of feeling helpless, Kate said an idea took shape to commemorate the victims.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
  • And the 18-year-old Mastantuono has already brought fresh ideas to Madrid’s attack.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Johnson’s dishonesty doesn’t even take into consideration the carnage from the homicides of yesteryear in the Windy City.
    Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In their permit applications, companies cite this reality, often listing financial considerations as the reason for seeking exemptions, Oilfield Witness found.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The exact cause is also unknown, but it is believed to be related to inflammation in the facial nerve, potentially due to viral infections.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The cause of the fire is believed to be of natural origin.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Each module has a video component and addresses real-world concepts for AI use cases in automotive.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Zara relocated and expanded into an elevated design department store-style concept featuring a dedicated Zara Athletics section.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, cautioned that the talks were in the early stages and that no proposal has been finalized.
    Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Senior Justice Department officials have held internal deliberations in recent days over potentially issuing a rule that could restrict transgender individuals from being able to own firearms, two officials familiar with the discussions confirmed Thursday to ABC News.
    Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Competitive Wordle Score Unlucky for me, the Wordle Bot got massively, inexplicably lucky today and guessed in two.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Many others guessed that the note was the result of the sender being enrolled in a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program, specifically referring to step nine, where the person is encouraged to make amends.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Danni-Elle Townsend, who’s made a solid impression in PPA internationals this year, was upset in the first round by 43-yr old qualifier and eventual Bronze medalist from Japan Rika Fujiwara, a former WTA tennis pro who toured for more than 20 years before retiring from Tennis in 2020.
    Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Rookie pitcher Ryan Bergert has made a strong impression with the Kansas City Royals since arriving from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The left-hander figured his 2017 season would be his last.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Who couldn’t have figured that out?
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thought. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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