EMOTION Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

emotion

noun

i-ˈmō-shən

Definition of emotion

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Instead, people may experience the memory as disconnected fragments of sensations, emotions, smells or images. — Michele Patterson Ford, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026 But that would be hollow without the sense that the characters’ emotions, and therefore our emotions, are real—that the story, though it might have been born from metaphor, has literal, intrinsic meaning. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 Written after the 2022 death of drummer and friend Taylor Hawkins, the song felt like a moment of catharsis for Grohl, the emotion in his voice audible and his guitar playing an exorcism of emotional pain. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 That emotion is also evident in the leader dimension of the employment relationship. — Susan Lamotte, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emotion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emotion

Noun

Stars have posted their feelings on social media with the hashtag #WorthTheCost.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
The risk is overanalyzing what still needs rest or turning every feeling into homework.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeling

Noun

Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
The intensity of weather events in that span caused significant devastation across the state, and the August storms have only exacerbated the impact on communities and local governments.

— John Tufts, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of intensity

Noun

The Voyager starts to make more sense when the bike also needs to handle groceries, school gear, or part of the morning drop-off routine.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
For communities facing population loss, an aging workforce, or struggling to retain young professionals and skilled workers, attracting new residents can make economic sense.

— Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of sense

Noun

Known for her dry sense of humor, passion for horses and being the hardest working royal, Princess Anne has also maintained strict boundaries about her privacy and kept her family away from the spotlight.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
There was a fluidity to their performance that treasured passion over technical precision.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of passion

Noun

By retracing Berezovska’s footsteps, finding witnesses and hearing from one of the men accused of killing her, CNN has uncovered a tale of violence, strange twists and unanswered questions.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Lúcia added the Maria da Penha law needed updating because violence against women in Brazil is also a matter of power and as many femicides take place out of women’s homes in situations that are reported to police but ignored.

— Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of violence

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emoting

emotion

emotional

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“Emotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emotion. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of emotion

noun

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Synonyms of emotion

noun

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