Definition of opinionnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun opinion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of opinion are belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment, and view. While all these words mean "a judgment one holds as true," opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute.

each expert seemed to have a different opinion

When is it sensible to use belief instead of opinion?

While in some cases nearly identical to opinion, belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent.

a firm belief in her party's platform

When can conviction be used instead of opinion?

The meanings of conviction and opinion largely overlap; however, conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief.

the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human

When might persuasion be a better fit than opinion?

In some situations, the words persuasion and opinion are roughly equivalent. However, persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth.

was of the persuasion that everything changes

When is sentiment a more appropriate choice than opinion?

The words sentiment and opinion can be used in similar contexts, but sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings.

her feminist sentiments are well-known

In what contexts can view take the place of opinion?

The words view and opinion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, view suggests a subjective opinion.

very assertive in stating his views

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 opinion The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2026 Alito issued his temporary pause on the 5th Circuit opinion last week after the two pharmaceutical companies that make mifepristone, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, filed emergency petitions with the Supreme Court. Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2026 On the night that everything changed, one of them would end the night screaming, and the other, in my opinion, didn't scream enough. Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026 Originally utilizing polling by Gallup to determine award winners in television, film, and music categories based on popular opinion, the show switched to online fan voting in 2005. Michael Schneider, Variety, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for opinion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opinion
Noun
  • Take time to reflect and renew your spiritual and religious beliefs.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
  • The strength of that belief has fluctuated, dipping sharply after their March defeat by City before rising again in recent weeks.
    Ayo Akinwolere, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • And Tuesday, Cypress was able to manufacture a run in the seventh to leave him with a no decision.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Parting ways with Morey was ultimately not an easy decision for the 76ers, but Philadelphia’s inability to take the next step in a constantly changing East played a significant role in the organization’s direction.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • Alas, Frum misread the numbers, vastly undercounting Piker’s views.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
  • But current students say his views and votes go against the school’s mission to improve people’s well-being and increase diversity in the medical field.
    Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Spatola and his legal team declined to comment immediately after the verdict.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2026
  • Meade County officials said the verdict is under review.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Swann, in other words, takes Washburn’s side of the animal-mind argument.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • After losing the first two games of a first-place Palomar League showdown, playing poorly in the second game and losing by 12 runs, Mission Hills High School baseball coach Griffin Teisher said his team had one thing on its mind.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • The chatbots then walked back some of their original conclusions, with Claude specifically noting that its original planning horizon was too short.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 May 2026
  • Officials have said the descriptions reflect observations made at the time and do not include conclusions about the nature of the phenomena.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Berben believes that attitudes could improve, having recently returned from CinemaCon, the annual trade show for movie theater owners, which was held in Las Vegas last month.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 11 May 2026
  • Gombrowicz never really ‘assimilated’ to life in Argentina, partly due to the unique and unprecedented circumstances that brought him there in the first place, but also because of his naturally irreverent and at times even childish attitude towards literary establishment.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • But part of the reason is that even with our most precise and accurate measurements that lead to a determination of the gravitational constant, those various teams and methods haven’t converged on a single answer.
    Big Think, Big Think, 6 May 2026
  • Dean was born in a small town in South Dakota, educated in a one-room schoolhouse, and through grit and determination built a small garbage business into Waste Management — a global company serving multiple continents with over $9 billion in revenue by his retirement.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Opinion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opinion. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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