connotation

noun

Definition of connotationnext
as in implication
an idea or quality that is suggested by a word or thing a word with positive connotations The word "childlike" has connotations of innocence.

Related Words

Relevance

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 connotation But there was no negative connotation behind [doing] the shoot together. — Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026 But, of course, an airport carries fewer negative connotations than Tennessee’s eternally controversial state legislature. — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 Growing up, the American dream always took on a financial connotation for Utrera. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 These positive connotations associated with scientific research help the AI industry signal altruism while downplaying their profit-making ambitions. — Matthew Sun, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for connotation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for connotation
  1. implication
  2. sense
  3. meaning
  4. hint
  5. indication
  6. definition
  7. suggestion
  8. message
Noun
  • For coastal communities, the implications extend beyond Antarctica.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This emergent growth dynamic comes with important implications.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of implication
Noun
  • Investors should also look at a fund's 30-day SEC yield to get a sense of what the company is generating in terms of income.
    — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Government buildings were vandalized in multiple cities, contributing to a sense of national crisis that could boost leading far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen six months before elections.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • The expression has different meanings across cultures, rarely referring to its literal translation.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • What begins as an extreme pursuit becomes an intimate journey into obsession, mortality and the search for meaning.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of meaning
Noun
  • That question motivated Clark to better understand aging among plants and animals and to look for hints to extend humans' lifespan.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Until this glorious fall Saturday afternoon gave way to the hints of early evening, Indiana football — once the losingest team in all of college football — hadn’t tasted their ordinary helping of defeat for 666 days.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of hint
Noun
  • If the preseason is any indication, Wiggins is going to have a quality season for the Heat.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And there are indications that the rising costs aren’t going away anytime soon.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of indication
Noun
  • Inaba called out a lift in the couple’s samba routine and even read the definition of a lift during her critique.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Federal Aviation Administration told CBS News and Politico that the vehicle doesn’t meet its definition of an aircraft, meaning the agency wouldn’t need to certify it as airworthy.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of definition
Noun
  • Not all of Wright’s suggestions for painting the museum were so subtle.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • What readers are saying The comments on the article express a mix of opinions and suggestions regarding scenic train trips for viewing fall foliage.
    — Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of suggestion
Noun
  • Expect Raman, whom City Hall opponents have long trashed as conflict-averse, to focus on a message of possibility and positivity while holding her ground and striking back — and hard — when necessary.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Adam Rubin, one of the co-owners, told USA Today that the store’s phone and emails have been flooded with threatening messages.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of message

Browse Nearby Words

connoisseurs
connotation
connotations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Connotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connotation. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on connotation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about connotation

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All