Synonym Chooser

How is the word inception distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of inception are origin, root, and source. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

When could origin be used to replace inception?

The words origin and inception are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being.

an investigation into the origin of baseball

When is root a more appropriate choice than inception?

The synonyms root and inception are sometimes interchangeable, but root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

When can source be used instead of inception?

While the synonyms source and inception are close in meaning, source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

Examples of inception in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web Since its inception almost a decade ago, the organization has transformed countless lives and raised over $1 million dollars that go directly back into the community. Eva Reign, Them, 24 Oct. 2024 Labor battles have marked the WNBA’s ups and downs since its inception in 1996, with players periodically threatening to spend their time in other leagues and owners countering with the possibility of canceling seasons or even folding teams. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2024 From its inception in 2018, Artists 360 has awarded $1.3 million to seven cohorts of 157 artists in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Deb Harvell, arkansasonline.com, 20 Oct. 2024 Chief Keef, a pioneer in the inception and rise of drill music, is getting his own documentary, Variety can exclusively report. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inception 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inception
Noun
  • The Nuggets more or less survived a stretch of more than six minutes with Jokic on the bench and Doncic on the floor at the beginning of the second quarter.
    Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
  • And this kind of tension has been with the symbolic capitalists from the beginning.
    Sean Illing, Vox, 9 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Milwaukee chef and restaurateur Dan Jacobs will cook up a commencement speech for the University of Wisconsin-Madison this winter.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2024
  • In the aftermath, the university canceled its commencement, and its president, Minouche Shafik, resigned months later.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Also standard are dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, interior ambient lighting, and a 12-volt power outlet.
    James Raia, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • Saros, despite a wobbly start for the Nashville Predators, is the country’s clear No. 1 guy.
    Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Climate Denial as a Defense Mechanism Much like a terror management lab experiment – or the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic– natural disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton trigger death anxiety.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
  • As a longtime Palo Alto resident, she’s been to the gardens throughout her life, and recalls stopping by for a visit in 2020 just before widespread shelter-in-place orders went into effect with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The launch of the solid-fuel Hwasong-19 rocket, overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was the latest in the frequent missile tests the nuclear-armed regime has conducted in defiance of United Nations Security Council sanctions.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Benefits include a 20% discount during the Savings Event, early access to sales and new product launches, special gifts and more birthday gift options than lower tiers.
    Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Space aficionados often compare the drive to explore other worlds to the impulse that sent humans on voyages around the world, depicting our forebears’ curiosity about our own planet as an innate imperative curiosity that defines us as an alpha species.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
  • So Rishi is this very alpha, front-footed, boisterous character.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near inception

Cite this Entry

“Inception.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inception. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on inception

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