thought 1 of 2

noun

ˈthȯt How to pronounce thought (audio)
Definition of thoughtnext
1
as in consideration
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something I'll give your request some thought and then let you know what my decision is

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind I just had a thought: what if we both pitched in and bought him one big present instead of two smaller presents for his birthday?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thought

2 of 2

verb

past tense of think
as in believed
to have as an opinion I think we should wait for someone to come help us out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Here’s a breakdown of the rest of the firm’s thoughts on trends for 2025. —Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2025 Liberals and conservatives reported having negative thoughts when asked about his podcast, according to a recent California poll. —Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
Some of the rules, like only having one serve, should also give tennis pause for thought about whether there are elements of UTS that would work well on the main tour. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024 The system as envisioned in the First Amendment, that the government cannot interfere with the freedom of the press, is working precisely as the Founders thought. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for thought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thought
  1. consideration
  2. idea
  3. believed
  4. deliberation
  5. concept
  6. guessed
  7. impression
  8. notion
Noun
  • The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performer nominees were recently announced, and Oasis are once again up for consideration.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Other major platforms have been re-evaluating their content moderation strategies in response to political pressure, regulatory scrutiny and financial considerations.
    — Esat Dedezade, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of consideration
Noun
  • Then Sterling did some less effective things and got suspended anyway, so that mad idea was, at least, parked for the time being.
    — Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The cultural dynamic of these ideas has changed, but the fundamental product being sold by Musk has not: one man with a singular ability to brute force his way to the future.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of idea
Verb
  • Estimates of Gaza’s Christian population range from roughly 800 to more than 1,000, although hundreds are believed to have left for Egypt, Canada and Australia since the war began.
    — Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Bells in the church, with a gold cross on its steeple visible on Broadway and surrounding blocks, are believed to be more than 170 years old.
    — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of believed
Noun
  • Match the level of deliberation to the stakes involved.
    — Aslak de Silva, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • So this was just hours and hours of deliberation, of discussion, of voting.
    — Nick Caruso, TVLine, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of deliberation
Noun
  • His meticulous approach includes researching academic papers to grasp complex connotations of traditional Chinese concepts.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Inspired by artificial general intelligence (AGI) concepts, these systems will predict failures, reconfigure workflows and autonomously balance efficiency with sustainability, unlocking new levels of resilience in asset-intensive industries.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of concept
Verb
  • Strong passwords that are not easily guessed and/or a password manager.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg guessed Jason Derulo.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of guessed
Noun
  • It’s been six years since Leaving Neverland left an indelible impression on Michael Jackson’s legacy.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The late Queen Elizabeth had many enviable talents, including impressions of some of the world's most recognizable figures.
    — Meredith Kile, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of impression
Noun
  • The implementation was much delayed due to a whole slew of factors, from states opposing the very notion to later delays caused by the pandemic to the usual governmental slowness.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
  • In a sworn legal declaration, Flick claimed that DOGE officials arrived at SSA with preconceived notions of widespread fraud, despite no evidence to support such claims.
    — Dan Cody, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of notion

Phrases Containing thought

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Cite this Entry

“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thought. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on thought

Nglish: Translation of thought for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thought

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