cognition

noun

Definition of cognitionnext
as in perception
technical conscious mental activities; the activities of thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering disabilities affecting cognition and judgment

Related Words

Relevance

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 cognition Her research focuses on creativity and creativity evaluation, as well as social cognition in organizational contexts. — Cynthia Lee, Harvard Business Review, 1 Oct. 2026 The researchers tested one particular exercise regimen and one aspect of cognition. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026 Several types of professional therapy can help improve cognition, self-care, self-awareness, and daily functioning for people who have schizophrenia. — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2026 These include experience, identity, cognition, agency, curiosity, reason, imagination and thought experimentation, among many others. — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cognition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cognition
  1. perception
  2. observation
  3. intellection
  4. reflection
  5. thought
  6. concept
  7. conception
Noun
  • The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' 2022 review of fetal awareness concluded that pain perception requires an integrated network of neural connections.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • But this perception completely distorts what most Palestinians believe and are prepared to accept.
    — Michael Robbins, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of perception
Noun
  • However, with these new observations from JWST, scientists have unprecedented detailed views of the stars and protostars still forming amidst the gas and dust.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Police said the test provided additional evidence consistent with their observations.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of observation
Noun
  • Texture, depth and grainy intellection are absent.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Despite appearances to the contrary—the swirling sentences, the feverish intellection—there is nothing hermetic about Krasznahorkai’s work, both old and new, which squarely faces contemporary European reality and its perils, including the tortured dynamics of settlement, movement, and identity.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of intellection
Noun
  • The cultural demons a 34-year-old playwright was conjuring a century ago rise up as dark reflections for our own.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • If someone solves a problem that the mathematical community has decided is central and important and hard, that solution is considered a reflection of deep insight and creativity.
    — Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of reflection
Noun
  • August 23 – September 22 Your thoughts may be louder than usual this morning.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Do read columnist Michael Cunningham’s thoughts on the matter — but in the meantime, some basics.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of thought
Noun
  • Advances in electrical power systems, tracking technology, beam control and compact high-energy lasers are making the concept increasingly practical.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Though the idea proved nearly impossible to fully realize, the concept of a more fluid, non-rigid weaving style became central to Wiener’s practice.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of concept
Noun
  • Risk, legal and compliance leaders belong in the room from the moment of conception, not the approval stage.
    — Olufunsho Peters, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The first is the art history of the work, which includes its conception, its construction, and its place within Serra’s practice overall.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of conception

Browse Nearby Words

cognate
cognition
cognitional
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cognition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cognition. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cognition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cognition

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All