conception

noun

kən-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce conception (audio)
Definition of conceptionnext
1
as in concept
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation the false conception that wheelchair users are homebound and helpless

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind our changing conceptions of what constitutes art

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun conception contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conception are concept, idea, impression, notion, 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)," 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 can concept be used instead of conception?

Although the words concept and conception have much in common, 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

When might idea be a better fit than conception?

The meanings of idea and conception largely overlap; however, 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 is impression a more appropriate choice than conception?

While the synonyms impression and conception are close in meaning, impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

Where would notion be a reasonable alternative to conception?

The words notion and conception can be used in similar contexts, but 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 it sensible to use thought instead of conception?

The synonyms thought and conception are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 conception The Immaculate Conception, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854, is the teaching that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was herself preserved from original sin, a stain inherited from Adam that Catholics believe all other human beings are born with, from the moment of her conception. —Dennis Doyle, The Conversation, 8 May 2025 The maps represent two conceptions of Gilroy and two responses to the calls to keep the more Latino East Side of the city together. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 7 May 2025 That 18 months spans the process from conception of the idea to a new product being on the market. —Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 And my reliance on Chatty won’t stop at conception. —Anonymous, Vogue, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conception
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conception
  1. concept
  2. idea
  3. stereotype
  4. thought
  5. notion
  6. impression
  7. theory
Noun
  • But without the grounding ballast of a well-articulated sense of self, these jokes are free-floating concepts in search of the context that actually makes sitcom quips memorable.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 28 May 2025
  • For instance, many of my coachees/leaders who have grown vertically on their own weren’t familiar with this concept until they were introduced to it in their organization’s professional development program.
    — Liz Guthridge, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of concept
Noun
  • Measure a neighbor’s trampoline or try one out in a sporting goods store to get a better idea of the best size for you.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
  • Per usual, the old and new world methods clash over topics like whether to physically restrain Emma to a bed, and Theophilus is convinced that anything that looks like rational evidence against his ideas is just Satan manipulating everyone’s brain.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 June 2025
Definition of idea
Noun
  • However, female flight attendants also faced considerable discrimination, as they were expected to conform to stereotypes around race and gender.
    — H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 6 June 2025
  • The punch of the stereotype derives from its resemblance to God’s honest truth.
    — Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
Definition of stereotype
Noun
  • Pope Leo's Style of American Leadership Is a Hopeful Opportunity This body of thought, which had its most notable appearance in his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum, introduced the world to a new approach to the social, economic, and political challenges of the day.
    — Time, Time, 29 May 2025
  • And, of course, doing all these things in the presence of clients just shows a complete lack of rational thought.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 29 May 2025
Definition of thought
Noun
  • Many of the pointed questions that Cruz Guerrero sought answers to in the text revolved around fatherhood, namely the elusive notion of work-life balance.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
  • The very notion of shared destiny and collective goals is fading.
    — Sturla Henriksen, Time, 5 June 2025
Definition of notion
Noun
  • Okonkwo made a huge impression in north Wales and his move was made permanent last summer on a free transfer.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Over time, these impressions can harden into a narrative where your partner is cast as the villain, even if the situation was more nuanced in reality.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of impression
Noun
  • But the people interviewed for this story float several theories.
    — Tyler Hicks, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
  • As fear grew in 2023 over the failure to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling, the White House was said to be considering an option of last resort: an untested legal theory that involves invoking the 14th Amendment.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Definition of theory

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Cite this Entry

“Conception.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conception. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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