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
Often, doctors don't connect symptoms like depression or suicidal thoughts to the drug. Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025 Copilot’s tendency to produce bullet points instead of extended paragraphs can be useful for quick summaries, but Gemini's answers seem more like the products of thought. PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Some recent research, however, suggests that CTE may not be as rare among professional football players as once thought. Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025 While Rivers and Otto are often said to be cousins, the pair had initially thought they were related, but turned out not to be. Jem Aswad, Variety, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thought
Noun
  • Bank of America reiterates Nvidia and Broadcom as buy Bank of America says the stocks remain favorite ideas at the firm.
    Michael Bloom, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
  • It’s not presented as an idea because of how we were raised.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Each country chooses its own film to submit for Oscar consideration, and in Israel, the winner of best film at the Ophir Awards is automatically the country’s submission.
    Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But some property owners have signed a petition opposing the initiative, which could keep it from going to the Common Council for consideration.
    Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Schuster said the Fujian is more likely a stepping stone, and China’s next carrier, the Type 004, on which early construction is believed to have begun, will incorporate lessons learned from it.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
  • De Silva, police noted, was an innocent bystander who was not involved in the quarrel and was not believed to have been the target.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Google has been reorienting its Android smartphones’ software around this concept, with features like Circle to Search, which performs a Google search based on what’s on your phone’s screen.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Naroditsky was widely praised for his ability to explain complex chess concepts clearly.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • After just two hours of deliberation, the jury found Lorincz guilty of manslaughter.
    Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Their conversations coincided with fraught union deliberations and concerns that negotiations and a reduction in bus services might ultimately alert union members to potential red flags with the agency's finances.
    Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The alternative would have been shutting down pre-orders after that guessed number and marking the devices out of stock.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Who’d have guessed that the place to find a killer spritz cookie recipe would be inside a cemetery?
    Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Of his first impressions of his future wife, Plemons had nothing but praise.
    Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Mindy Clifton made an impression on Sabrina Hawkins when the two met years ago as correction officers in Volusia County, Florida.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Higginbotham figured one way to unpack his journey would be to talk about it even more.
    Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Saudi heritage and national pride figured across many collections, with geometric rooflines a graphic detail on the loose men’s alterna-suiting from Noble & Fresh, and odes to various regions spelled out in spirals of Arabic characters on Hindamme’s second-skin dresses.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thought. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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