emotion

noun

i-ˈmō-shən How to pronounce emotion (audio)
Definition of emotionnext
1
as in feeling
a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation my emotions after hearing the shocking news went from utter disbelief to overwhelming sorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intensity
depth of feeling the emotion that the singer is able to instill in "Amazing Grace" is truly stirring

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word emotion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of emotion are affection, feeling, passion, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses.

the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence

When might affection be a better fit than emotion?

While in some cases nearly identical to emotion, affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

Where would feeling be a reasonable alternative to emotion?

The meanings of feeling and emotion largely overlap; however, feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it.

the feelings that once moved me are gone

When is it sensible to use passion instead of emotion?

While the synonyms passion and emotion are close in meaning, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When is sentiment a more appropriate choice than emotion?

In some situations, the words sentiment and emotion are roughly equivalent. However, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

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 emotion The scenarios matter less than having the decision made before emotion shows up. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Dolly understood the memory and emotion that can be imbued in even the most humble pieces of clothing. — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026 To stir up emotions — good or bad — to provoke something and wake something up inside you. — Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026 This can include kitchen knives and other sharp objects, tools in a garage or a host of other potential weapons that can easily be grabbed when emotions run high. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emotion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emotion
  1. feeling
  2. intensity
  3. chord
  4. enthusiasm
  5. sense
  6. warmth
  7. passion
  8. violence
Noun
  • But such is the strength of feeling, former Love managing director Letty Kavanagh has launched twin lawsuits against Sky for wrongful dismissal and unpaid severance, as revealed by Deadline this month.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
  • And Imax aims to up the ante on that feeling with a fully immersive viewing experience supported by the largest screens along with the company's proprietary projection system and film cameras, Gelfond says.
    — Kamaron McNair Juhohn Lee, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of feeling
Noun
  • Thom’s uncomfortable intensity carries over to Hamburger Hamlet, where the tension between the couple finally reaches a breaking point.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The tool kit suggests states use concurrent review to compare delivered hours against authorized hours and test whether intensity still tracks progress.
    — JP Montoya, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of intensity
Noun
  • The script’s political dimension also struck a chord with Cruz and Bardem, both activists.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Playing in a seedy Bowery bar to a small group of fellow struggling musicians, the band struck a chord of disharmony that rocked the foundation of the mid-seventies music scene.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of chord
Noun
  • The staffers of the Truth Teller start the second season pumped with enthusiasm after their winning night at an Ohio journalism awards ceremony.
    — Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Organizers are hoping to boost GOP enthusiasm, but the confab is getting a lackluster reception from some in the party.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of enthusiasm
Noun
  • In that sense, hitting one in his second career at-bat, which was sandwiched by two strikeouts, was fitting.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Combining unexpected items can make a lot of sense and save precious space in your backpack.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • For hundreds of thousands of years, our species has enjoyed the warmth and protection of a good fire before bedtime.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Nor is Gadot a performer inclined to lend much more than athleticism to a role that could use some warmth and idiosyncrasy to color its rather generic action-hero gist.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of warmth
Noun
  • Carly keeps taking her new passion further, apparently spending all her tuition money on shooting a music video and renting a venue for a live performance plus merch and catering.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Parton’s passion projects were wide-ranging, from literacy and graduation rates in her home state to bald eagle conservation to donations for the development of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of passion
Noun
  • Younger adults, between the ages of 18 to 29, were more likely than others to say violence was sometimes OK, especially those with heavy social media use, according to the study.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The council was issuing a proclamation about gun violence prevention.
    — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of violence

Browse Nearby Words

emoting
emotion
emotional
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Cite this Entry

“Emotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emotion. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on emotion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about emotion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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