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 But while European governments have shifted their approaches in a bid to tame rising anti-immigration sentiment, deteriorating economic conditions in North Africa and the Middle East are pushing many there to seek better lives elsewhere. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Her sentiment echoed nearly 200 responses to a callout asking readers what Jackie meant to them. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 The city issued a statement Tuesday that echoed Lucas’ sentiments. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 Build’s platform parses municipal meeting transcripts, historical zoning decisions, and local news archives to help identify community sentiment. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentiment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment

Noun

By identifying exactly what the frustration concerns before reacting, leaders are more likely to channel emotion toward fixing broken systems instead of attacking individuals.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Cognitive behavioral therapy can teach the woman to identify emotions and change thought patterns.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of emotion

Noun

Advisors and travel executives attending Virtuoso Travel Week, which is being held this week in Las Vegas, have diverse opinions and experiences.

— Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Public and political interests and opinions can shift quickly, which Fleming says could impact whether other companies make future ventures into psychedelics.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of opinion

Noun

The sluggish job market has shut out new entrants and left people like Ruiz feeling stuck.

— Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Jackson's disappointment with the logger blockade and other labor demonstrations in the late 1990s further cemented his feeling that something had to change.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeling

Noun

White, Clark and others with the Fever have been asked to respond to Cunningham’s beliefs since, and other voices in the league have weighed in as well.

— Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
States without personal-belief exemptions consistently have higher vaccination rates – and are less likely to see outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases – than states that do allow them.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of belief

Noun

Years later, Bryant’s TikTok celebrating that journey has struck a chord with viewers who see Tubaya’s story as a reminder that life doesn’t have an expiration date.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Soon, though, the musicians fill in the midrange with blushing chords and a bell-tone melody that pulls gently away from the root note, creating a gentle tension.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of chord

Noun

In those entries, Fauci discussed his views on the origins of the coronavirus — a topic Paul has accused Fauci of issuing misleading statements on, which Fauci has long denied.

— Joe Walsh, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
The stream will feature expert commentary on the science of the eclipse along with live views from telescopes at the Observatorio Astrofisco de Javalambre, which is located close to the Spanish city of Teruel directly in the path of totality.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of view

Noun

What’s crucially lacking here is a particularly compelling sense of Reagan and Gorbachev as human characters.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
People think of intimacy in a romantic sense, but the relationships artists have with the people in their corner in the industry is also really intimate.

— Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of sense

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 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sentiment

noun

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Synonyms of sentiment

noun

Synonym Chooser

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7 Words for When You're Feeling...

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