SENTIMENT Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sentiment' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sentiment are affection , emotion , feeling , and passion . While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea. // her feminist sentiments are well known

Q: In what contexts can 'affection' take the place of 'sentiment'?

The synonyms affection and sentiment are sometimes interchangeable, but affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings. // a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

Q: How do 'emotion' and 'feeling' relate to one another, in the sense of 'sentiment'?

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

Q: When could 'feeling' be used to replace 'sentiment'?

The words feeling and sentiment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: When can 'passion' be used instead of 'sentiment'?

The meanings of passion and sentiment largely overlap; however, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion. // revenge became his ruling passion

sentiment

noun

ˈsen-tə-mənt

Definition of sentiment

as in emotion

a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation a sentiment of happiness and goodwill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in opinion

an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge antiwar sentiments

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fact
truth

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sentiment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sentiment are affection, emotion, feeling, and passion. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

In what contexts can affection take the place of sentiment?

The synonyms affection and sentiment are sometimes interchangeable, but affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

How do emotion and feeling relate to one another, in the sense of sentiment?

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 could feeling be used to replace sentiment?

The words feeling and sentiment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 can passion be used instead of sentiment?

The meanings of passion and sentiment largely overlap; however, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

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 sentiment Across the globe, current brand sentiment toward AllSaints varies, a company representative shared. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026 What To Do With The Data Auditing AI sentiment is the first step. — Joshua George, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Older workers express more positive sentiments about AI than their Gen Z cohorts. — Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Tight surveillance by Russian authorities prevents any form of protest; pro-Ukraine sentiment is forbidden. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentiment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment

Noun

Days filled with screenings, meetings, press conferences, discussion, discoveries, emotion, and, inevitably, a few surprises.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
There is a portion of Royals fans who wish manager Matt Quatraro would show more emotion during the season.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of emotion

Noun

In an unsigned opinion, a majority of the justices said the administration is likely to win its argument that the group suing to stop construction cannot show its been sufficiently harmed.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Capricorn December 22 – January 19 Someone close to you may arrive with urgency, opinions, and absolutely no interest in waiting.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of opinion

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

Just as a market will theoretically arrive at the optimal price for a good that reflects the interests of many agents, trading in predictions could distill research, observation, and belief into actionable odds.

— Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
It's rooted in our belief that, regardless of where Corning shares are coming from, regaining upside momentum will be extremely difficult in the near-term.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of belief

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

And although, as a survey-style telescope, Roman boasts a wider, faster view of the sky than either Hubble or JWST, McEnery emphasized that doesn’t make these more focused missions obsolete.

— Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
In IconArrows pointing outwards A key feature of the turn into September, which begins a year's third and final act, is that analysts and investors start to calibrate their views of next year.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of view

Noun

Specs AccordionItemContainerButton Minimalist and cozy are two words that come to mind when describing the Zixuan daybed, which has a clean silhouette but doesn’t feel sterile thanks to its plump pillows.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026
Another novel where the author explores how to cultivate the mind, body, home, and social circle in order to propagate creativity, and wonders what happens when any or all elements become fallow or diseased.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of mind

Browse Nearby Words

sentient

sentiment

sentimental

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentiment. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sentiment

noun

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Synonyms of sentiment

noun

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