INCEPTION Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

inception

noun

in-ˈsep-shən

Definition of inception next

as in beginning

the point at which something begins this seemed like a good program at its inception, but it isn't working out as planned

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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

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 inception According to Powerball, the jackpot has been hit almost 200 times since the lottery's inception in 1992. —

Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 Since its inception, the DGA has correctly predicted the Academy Award winner for best director in all but eight instances. —

Michael Schneider, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026 TheatreWorks has presented productions at Palo Alto’s Lucie Stern Theatre since the company’s inception in 1970, and at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts since that space opened in 1991. —

Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026 In the campaign, Zendaya pays tribute to the iconic Speedy bag, which, since its inception, has taken on many different forms in fashion history—serving as a playground for artistic collaborations and a canvas for hyper-personalization. —

Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inception

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inception

Noun

Intertextuality is described by Scarlett Barton in perhaps the opposite way, as linked to Roland Barthes’ observation that the author is dead, and that the text is the dissolution of every kind of voice, every beginning and core.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
This approach may appeal to taxpayers who want more personalized guidance at the beginning of the tax relief process before deciding how to proceed.

— Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026

Definition of beginning

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inceptions

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“Inception.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inception. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 14 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

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