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 In recent weeks, investors have tried to reconcile gaps between the hard economic data, some of which started to show cracks in the labor market before May payrolls came in stronger-than-expected, and the soft economic data, which has signaled a deterioration in consumer sentiment for months. Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 June 2025 That sentiment may be particularly true for discretionary categories, including fashion and apparel. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 6 June 2025 And the good vibes that have powered a rebound in sentiment and a massive market rally could disappear in a flash. David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025 That sentiment has echoed through his work on Broadway this season, where Groff is currently starring as Bobby Darin in Just in Time. Dave Quinn, People.com, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sentiment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment
Noun
  • The emerging British singer brought a lot of heart and emotion to the performance.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • In a battle defined by grit and high emotions, the Miami Hurricanes fell to the Louisville Cardinals, 3-2, in Game 3 of the NCAA Louisville Super Regional.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • The law was upheld last year in an opinion written by a prominent conservative judge.
    David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • While the advice from Google is certainly not to be ignored by users, in my never humble opinion, Walsh does not agree.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • With a state-of-the-art new factory and a Honda works engine supply arriving from 2026, the feeling has long been that Aston’s foundations are coming together.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 31 May 2025
  • The feeling among economists is that tariffs and inflation go together.
    John Navin, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • Resilient leadership requires an unparalleled ability to adapt without compromising core values, beliefs or foundational principles.
    Novena Riojas, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The hopeful belief that follows is that confronting one’s cultural influences—identifying them, analyzing them, and exposing how their assumptions shore up a society of male supremacy—can rob them of their power to indoctrinate.
    Dayna Tortorici, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • From the start, Smoke struck a chord with Egerton, who also serves as an executive producer.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 4 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, singer Melanie Martinez’s fragrance brand, Portals Parfums, has also struck a chord with the cohort, with more than 11 percent of the brand’s 230,000-plus social followers being within the ages of 13 to 17.
    Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Seagulls cruise over fishing boats, and there are delicious water front views of distant mainland mountains.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • Visitors can climb the tower for panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, explore rooms restored to reflect 19th-century lighthouse life, and unwind with their picnic in a shaded pavilion with unbeatable views.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • The recent wave of popularity sparked by the game’s youngest stars — including Fever guard Caitlin Clark, who missed her fourth straight game with a left quadriceps strain — have brought a new sense of appreciation from players both veteran and new.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • The full trailer emphasizes the sense of community among the crew members, showcasing budding romances, space adventures, and an explosive science experiment.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • Adaptation keeps you top of mind when budgets tighten.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • My pen, my mind and my feelings are in every verse and in every hook.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 9 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentiment. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sentiment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!