OPINION Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

opinion

noun

ə-ˈpin-yən

Definition of opinion next

as in belief

an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge a number of voters expressed the opinion that all politicians, regardless of party affiliation, are corrupt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fact
truth

as in decision

a position arrived at after consideration after reviewing the evidence, the athletic board came to the opinion that the team be disqualified for recruiting violations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 opinion Political pundit Rory Stewart, a former U.K. government minister married to an American, argued these corrections in modeling to address problems in their data meant pollsters could not be relied on to provide an accurate portrait of public opinion. —

Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024 Francis has frequently used social media to share passages of scripture, reflections on his faith and his opinions of world events since becoming the head of the Catholic Church in 2013. —

Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024 Not so in the United States, where the people's interests are too diverse not to provide for ways to demonstrate a decent respect for the opinions of those who do not constitute the majority. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 Fewer than half of Americans ever report using AI, so most consumers still base their AI opinions on media depictions or word-of-mouth instead of direct exposure. —

Greg Brunk, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for opinion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for opinion

Noun

And that can ease the terror of mortality by connecting people to an enduring and comforting web of ideas and beliefs that transcend one’s own existence.

Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
The enthusiastic turnout demonstrates that the public still holds a strong belief and the purpose of our elections.

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024