as in understandings
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
a growing perception of the enormity of the problem
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Recent Examples of perceptions
Rupp’s slick multimedia work speaks to both technology and societal perceptions of aging women.
—
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Paranoia’s impulsiveness, fixation, and self consciousness are mirrored in romance as a desire to be perceived in a particular way by a specific audience, a curiosity to uncover something deeper and more vital, and the desire to disappear into a world safe from outside perceptions.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Still analysts said the late movement in the field reflects how quickly perceptions can shift at a moment like this.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Hughes has come out the other side of those biased perceptions of his game because he is listed at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, considerably heavier than Hutson’s listed 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
So their branching off into entertainment is really smart, especially in the Image Awards period, because so many perceptions are formed through entertainment.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Actions to combat negative perceptions include leading a communications campaign to promote parking options and other modes of transportation, the summary says.
—Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register, 2 Feb. 2026
The city’s online scorecards show perceptions of the cities’ cleanliness and downtown vibrancy are improving, but the city is more than 3,000 units short of demand to shelter homeless people and construction of affordable and market rate housing has also fallen short of goals.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
With more use cases often comes more demand and greater long-term value perceptions.
—Ethan Stone, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Paranoia’s impulsiveness, fixation, and self consciousness are mirrored in romance as a desire to be perceived in a particular way by a specific audience, a curiosity to uncover something deeper and more vital, and the desire to disappear into a world safe from outside perceptions.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Still analysts said the late movement in the field reflects how quickly perceptions can shift at a moment like this.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Hughes has come out the other side of those biased perceptions of his game because he is listed at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, considerably heavier than Hutson’s listed 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
So their branching off into entertainment is really smart, especially in the Image Awards period, because so many perceptions are formed through entertainment.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Actions to combat negative perceptions include leading a communications campaign to promote parking options and other modes of transportation, the summary says.
—Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register, 2 Feb. 2026
The city’s online scorecards show perceptions of the cities’ cleanliness and downtown vibrancy are improving, but the city is more than 3,000 units short of demand to shelter homeless people and construction of affordable and market rate housing has also fallen short of goals.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
With more use cases often comes more demand and greater long-term value perceptions.
—Ethan Stone, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceptions
Noun
-
Gelb said the broad crime rate decreases have made some criminologists question historic understandings of what drives trends in violent crime and how to battle it.—
Claudia Lauer,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
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And as states started to abandon Common Core, school controversies began to focus less on standards and achievement than on competing understandings of America itself.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Brian LaCroix, restaurant operator at Chick-fil-A, said the fast food chain will no longer be offering the military appreciations special.—
Rosanna Fraire,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
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The release includes interviews, outtakes and critical appreciations.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perceptions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceptions. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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