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 next

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

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 sentiment Schools have seen a drop in childhood vaccinations since the COVID-19 pandemic, when critics of the COVID-19 vaccines increased anti-vaccine sentiments in general. —

Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 14 Dec. 2024 Readers encounter this sentiment early in The Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead’s award-winning 2019 novel, not long after the unearthing of a bloody bit of history. —

K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024 Major cities including Shanghai and Beijing are launching a new round of voucher programs to encourage local consumption before the holidays, also lifting sentiment. —

Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Asia, 13 Dec. 2024 That sentiment was echoed by Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley during his company’s quarterly earnings call last month. —

Alex Sherman, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sentiment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment

Noun

There are also gender-role stereotypes that impact people's understanding of how they are 'allowed' or expected to grieve and show emotion, based on what has been deemed 'acceptable' in society.

David Oliver, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
In society, emotional labor has a market value, requiring individuals to regulate their emotions to meet expectations in exchange for a wage.

Elpida Kokkota, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024