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 If someone joins your team with anti-AI sentiment, no amount of training can change their mindset. Anatolii Kasianov, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025 His sentiments also extended to the rest of the show's stars. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025 Rather, Morales’s campaign likely harnessed existing anti-candidate sentiment, while leaching support from left-wing alternatives. Mollie J. Cohen, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025 Our agency protocol prioritizes swiftly engaging with both positive sentiment to cultivate brand advocates and negative feedback for prompt, effective reputation management. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sentiment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment
Noun
  • His live set felt like a celebration of his 35-year Nashville legacy, chosen and served like a delightful, metaphorical smorgasbord of powerful emotions.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • This con was designed to bypass human logic and hijack human emotion.
    Michael Cannivet, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Have an opinion on driving barefoot or other driving habits?
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Our mission with We Are Not Numbers (the NGO) was to create a new generation of Palestinian writers and thinkers, who could harness the power of their words to nonviolently resist their oppression and influence public opinion about the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza.
    Ahmed Dader August 25, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Many people shared feelings of optimism for the future of baking events like Sugar Social in the area.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Address: Herengracht 255, 1016 BJ A lot of hotels purport to replicate the feeling of staying in a fabulous friend’s apartment, but very few actually pull it off.
    Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Those claims got a boost from another Supreme Court decision broadening protections for religious workers and expanding the requirements employers must meet to accommodate their beliefs.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
  • This inclusion is a value most Americans embrace, regardless of political ideology or religious belief.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Despite the significant support for FEMA, Trump's proposal strikes a chord with the public in some ways.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
  • The image quickly struck a chord online, racking up 15,000 upvotes since it was shared on August 20.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • For boating, swimming, and water sports, Lake Travis and Lake Austin are both excellent options with stunning views of hilltop homes nearby.
    Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Her views on the war were under as much scrutiny as her tennis.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The language of poetry speaks to all our senses, my father meant to say.
    Ilya Kaminsky August 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Feel her pain, her fear, and her sense of being stuck.
    Sarah Rex, JSTOR Daily, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Three of the five players who got in at 64 was enough to wonder which cup was on their minds.
    Doug Ferguson, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Crossword puzzles offer a fantastic opportunity to engage your mind, enjoy leisure time, and test your knowledge simultaneously.
    Sally Hoelscher, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentiment. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sentiment

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