Definitions

thought

[thawt] / θɔt /

NOUN

formation of mental objects

Synonyms

STRONGEST

attention hope logic reflection speculation thinking understanding

STRONG

anticipation apprehending cerebration cogitation cognition concluding consideration considering contemplation deducing deduction deliberation deriving discerning heed ideation inducing inferring introspection intuition judging knowing meditation musing perceiving rationalization rationalizing realizing reasoning regard rumination scrutiny seeing study theorization

WEAK

brainwork

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disbelief

STRONG

disdain disregard disrespect heedlessness ignorance neglect negligence thoughtlessness

WEAK

concrete thing vacancy vacuity

NOUN

idea, concept

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anxiety assessment belief concern conclusion dream expectation feeling hope image intention judgment knowledge notion opinion plan prospect theory thinking understanding view worry

STRONG

aim appreciation aspiration assumption attentiveness brainchild brainstorm caring compassion conception conjecture conviction design drift estimation fancy guess hypothesis inference intuition kindness object premise purpose regard reverie solicitude supposition sympathy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calmness certainty concrete disbelief fact ignorance reality truth

STRONG

cruelty dislike disregard harshness hate indifference knowledge meanness measurement mercilessness neglect proof

WEAK

thing vacancy vacuity

Usage

What are other ways to say thought? The noun thought, which reflects its primary emphasis on the mental process, may denote any concept except the more weighty and elaborate ones: I welcomed his thoughts on the subject. A thought came to him. Idea, although it may refer to thoughts of any degree of seriousness or triviality, is commonly used for mental concepts considered more important or elaborate: We pondered the idea of the fourth dimension. The idea of his arrival frightened me. Conception suggests a thought that seems complete, individual, recent, or somewhat intricate: The architect's conception delighted them. Notion suggests a fleeting, vague, or imperfect thought: a bare notion of how to proceed.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Guest: Kian Tajbakhsh, visiting assistant professor at New York University, lecturer at Columbia University, who works on the Committee on Global Thought and in the School of International and Public Affairs.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026

Thought leadership: This isn’t a term that most of us would use, even in semiformal conversation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

I had this whole thing in my head, but Black Thought had a whole verse already.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

On Carnforth resident posted on the site: "Heard a rumbling sound which intensified in to a loud bang. Thought my roof was collapsing or something! Very scary."

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

I worked for a solid year, and at the end of it I had a draft of my thesis: “The Family, Morality, and Social Science in Anglo-American Cooperative Thought, 1813-1890.”

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Vocabulary lists containing thought

Lesson 4

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thought

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing thought

Lesson 4