Formal/Academic:
* Denote: To indicate or refer to something specifically.
* Imply: To suggest or hint at something indirectly.
* Connote: To suggest or evoke a particular feeling or idea in addition to the literal meaning.
* Represent: To stand for or embody something.
* Symbolize: To be a symbol of something.
Informal/Everyday:
* Mean: To have a particular meaning.
* Show: To make something clear or obvious.
* Indicate: To point out or suggest something.
* Express: To communicate or reveal something.
* Point to: To suggest or direct attention to something.
The best word to use depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.