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 next

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

Examples 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 None of that happened on this occasion, and not just because the Russian has put serious work into controlling his emotions. —

Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025 And both depend on properly balancing evidence and emotion, comprehensiveness and concision, provocation and restraint. —

Patrick Barry, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025 Could this be the beginning of striking a balance between logic and emotion, meeting each other halfway? —

Alexis Grace Williams, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025 Although Steve rarely shows emotion, Cashman calls him after games, fields his questions about Sam Darnold’s play and Flores’ game plan, and feels how much his father is enjoying this. —

Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for emotion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emotion

Noun

The youngest Altman expressed feelings of estrangement from her family, particularly after their father, Jerry, died in 2018.

Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Managing your feelings in front of your children can be difficult — but taking more control over your feelings in frustrating situations is ultimately rewarding, Barnard College child psychologist Tovah Klein told CNBC Make It last year.

Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025