Implications — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌim-plə-ˈkā-shən/ im·pli·ca·tion

Meaning & Definition of Implications

Implications (noun)

  1. something implied
  2. a possible significance or future effect —usually used in plural
  3. suggestion

Implications (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an idea that is conveyed often indirectly

    "He took issue with the implication that he could not be trusted with the assignment."

    similar: clues, cues, hints, indications, inklings, intimations, suggestions, allusions, inferences, innuendos, insinuations, messages, connotations, bottoms, essences, essentialities, natures, souls, spirits, stuff, burdens, cruxes, gists, cores, hearts, kernels, marrows, nubs, nuclei, piths, points, quicks, matters, motifs, motives, questions, subjects, topics, contents, denotations, drifts, imports, intentions, intents, meanings, purports, senses, significances, significations

  2. a future condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "They were concerned with the possible implications of the new legislation."

    similar: ramifications, denouements, echoes, repercussions, afterclaps, afterglows, aftershocks, blowbacks, by-products, fallouts, offshoots, ripples, side effects, spin-offs, aftereffects, aftermaths, backwashes, children, conclusions, consequences, corollaries, developments, effects, fates, fruits, issues, outcomes, outgrowths, precipitates, products, resultants, results, sequels, sequences, upshots
    opposite: considerations, determinants, factors, bases, foundations, grounds, groundworks, impetuses, incentives, inspirations, instigations, stimuli, mothers, origins, roots, sources, springs, antecedents, causations, causes, occasions, reasons

  3. a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person

    "Employees were shocked by the implication of the company's CEO in the crime."

    similar: accusations, allegations, pleas, criminations, counteraccusations, countercharges, arraignments, impeachments, censures, condemnations, denunciations, recriminations, charges, complaints, counts, indictments, raps

Related Entry: Implication (noun)

Implication is a different word from Implications. The synonyms below are for implication, not for implications.

  1. an idea that is conveyed often indirectly

    "He took issue with the implication that he could not be trusted with the assignment."

    similar: clue, cue, hint, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion, allusion, inference, innuendo, insinuation, message, connotation, bottom, essence, essentiality, nature, soul, spirit, stuff, burden, crux, gist, core, heart, kernel, marrow, nub, nucleus, pith, point, quick, matter, motif, motive, question, subject, topic, content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, meaning, purport, sense, significance, signification

  2. a future condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "They were concerned with the possible implications of the new legislation."

    similar: ramification, denouement, echo, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off, aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot
    opposite: consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring, antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason

  3. a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person

    "Employees were shocked by the implication of the company's CEO in the crime."

    similar: accusation, allegation, plea, crimination, counteraccusation, countercharge, arraignment, impeachment, censure, condemnation, denunciation, recrimination, charge, complaint, count, indictment, rap

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Implications

The most common words with a similar meaning to Implications:

clues, cues, hints, indications, inklings, intimations, suggestions, allusions, inferences, innuendos, insinuations, messages, connotations, bottoms, essences, essentialities, natures, souls, spirits, stuff, burdens, cruxes, gists, cores, hearts, kernels, marrows, nubs, nuclei, piths, points, quicks, matters, motifs, motives, questions, subjects, topics, contents, denotations

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Implications

Words with the opposite meaning of Implications:

considerations, determinants, factors, bases, foundations, grounds, groundworks, impetuses, incentives, inspirations, instigations, stimuli, mothers, origins, roots, sources, springs, antecedents, causations, causes, occasions, reasons

Word Forms of Implications

Derived words: implicative (adjective), implicatively (adverb), implicativeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Implications

Middle English implicacioun "complication, complexity," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French implicacion "act of implying," borrowed from Medieval Latin implicātiōn-, implicātiō "entanglement, act of implying something, statement with implicit meaning," going back to Latin, "action of weaving in, intricacy," from implicāre "to fold about itself, entwine, involve" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action implicate

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Implications

Frequently Asked Questions about Implications

What does "Implications" mean?

"Implications" means something implied. As a noun, it is defined as: something implied. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Implications"?

Other words for "Implications" include clues, cues, hints, indications, inklings, intimations, suggestions and allusions. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Implications" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Implications"?

There are 101 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Implications". Common alternatives include clues, cues, hints, indications, inklings, intimations, suggestions, allusions, inferences and innuendos.

What is the opposite of "Implications"?

Antonyms of "Implications" include considerations, determinants, factors, bases, foundations, grounds, groundworks and impetuses.

How do you use "Implications" in a sentence?

Examples of "Implications" in a sentence: "He took issue with the implication that he could not be trusted with the assignment."; "They were concerned with the possible implications of the new legislation."; "Employees were shocked by the implication of the company's CEO in the crime.".

Is "Implications" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Implications" is a noun.

Is "Implications" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Implications"?

"Implications" is pronounced /ˌim-plə-ˈkā-shən/ and divided into syllables as im·pli·ca·tion.