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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Recent Examples of inception
While golf’s traditions have changed little since the tournament’s inception in the late 1800s, the AI boom has given rise to a new generation of tools to help players understand the game’s rules and fans enjoy major tournaments.
—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
21 June 2026
Hess’ brother, Peter Hess, is a professor emeritus of economics at Davidson College and served as the president of Nepal Orphans Home’s board of directors from its inception to its closing.
—
Diamy Wang,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2026
Simmons has been at the helm of Evanston’s reparations effort since its inception in 2019 and its subsequent approval by City Council in 2021.
—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Since its inception, Only Murders in the Building has been about loneliness, says John Hoffman, who created the series with its co-lead, Steve Martin.
—
Trey Williams,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inception
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
21 June 2026
Hess’ brother, Peter Hess, is a professor emeritus of economics at Davidson College and served as the president of Nepal Orphans Home’s board of directors from its inception to its closing.
—
Diamy Wang,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2026
Simmons has been at the helm of Evanston’s reparations effort since its inception in 2019 and its subsequent approval by City Council in 2021.
—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Since its inception, Only Murders in the Building has been about loneliness, says John Hoffman, who created the series with its co-lead, Steve Martin.
—
Trey Williams,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inception
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inception
Noun
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Prior to the trial beginning, the judge agreed that questions about Brown’s felony conviction for his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna would be barred from testimony.
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June was a frenetic month for the metro Atlanta restaurant scene, driven in part by a flurry of downtown openings timed to the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Noun
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The institutions that would be wise to pay attention are not just the ones whose CEOs walk into hostile commencement halls.
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At Middle Tennessee State University, Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta was booed while talking about AI at the commencement ceremony for the school's college of media and entertainment, which is named after him, reported the Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Noun
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In the longest start of his career, Mize threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of 22 batters and struck out five of his final six.
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In his 17th start of the year, Imanaga recorded his first outing without surrendering a walk or home run.
Noun
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The three-year war erupted at the onset of the collapse of Yugoslavia, with Bosnia and Herzegovina becoming one of the first countries to declare its independence from the country in 1992.
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The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
Noun
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The approach was already working, even before any formal launch.
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During the demonstration, three trucks were aligned and mechanically connected to form a continuous launch platform.
Noun
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People living in states already known to have high levels of lone star ticks were much more likely to have evidence that they’ve already been bitten by a tick and exposed to alpha-gal.
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The category leans heavy on alpha and beta hydroxy acids, the same actives doing the work on your face just packaged for bigger surface area.
Cite this Entry
“Inception.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inception. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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