EMOTION Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'emotion' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of emotion are affection , feeling , passion , and sentiment . While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," 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 might 'affection' be a better fit than 'emotion'?

While in some cases nearly identical to emotion , affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings. // a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

Q: Where would 'feeling' be a reasonable alternative to 'emotion'?

The meanings of feeling and emotion largely overlap; however, 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 is it sensible to use 'passion' instead of 'emotion'?

While the synonyms passion and emotion are close in meaning, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion. // revenge became his ruling passion

Q: When is 'sentiment' a more appropriate choice than 'emotion'?

In some situations, the words sentiment and emotion are roughly equivalent. However, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea. // her feminist sentiments are well known

emotion

noun

i-ˈmō-shən

Definition of emotion

as in feeling

a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation my emotions after hearing the shocking news went from utter disbelief to overwhelming sorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intensity

depth of feeling the emotion that the singer is able to instill in "Amazing Grace" is truly stirring

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word emotion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of emotion are affection, feeling, passion, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," 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 might affection be a better fit than emotion?

While in some cases nearly identical to emotion, affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

Where would feeling be a reasonable alternative to emotion?

The meanings of feeling and emotion largely overlap; however, 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 is it sensible to use passion instead of emotion?

While the synonyms passion and emotion are close in meaning, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When is sentiment a more appropriate choice than emotion?

In some situations, the words sentiment and emotion are roughly equivalent. However, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

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 emotion All investors have emotional reactions to trades, but not all are controlled by these emotions. — Thomas Hartmann, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Her songs embrace a wide range of moods and emotions, from unique takes on relationships to political satire. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026 Brady Tkachuk knows the emotions are going to be high on Wednesday. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 The other is that players showing their personalities and emotions is important to modernize the game and bring in fans who enjoy seeing how much the moment means. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emotion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emotion

Noun

Smiling can affect brain chemicals that are associated with positive feelings including endorphins, dopamine and serotonin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Embedded in the production of the show is the feeling of being trapped in a hall of mirrors; scenes are edited flagrantly, drowning the viewer in red herrings.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of feeling

Noun

Murban crude, produced by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has a carbon intensity less than half the global industry average.

— H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
My entire goal was to stay as relaxed as possible and let the contractions keep doing the work—an extremely challenging task as the intensity continued to build.

— Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of intensity

Noun

Turturro admires Harry’s old-school pride in his craft, but the character’s devotion to his ailing wife struck a deeper chord.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Twisted Teens joked they were contractually obligated to write a grunge song after signing to Sub Pop, prompting Billiard to claim that modifying any Beatles chord progression to stay major instead of going minor gets the job done.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of chord

Noun

Capricorn December 22 – January 19 The people around you may reveal where your enthusiasm belongs next.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
Despite Democratic enthusiasm this year, Donnini cautioned that polling numbers do not automatically translate into election victories.

— Jack Fink, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthusiasm

Noun

The tightness of White’s control over his arrangements can occasionally foreclose the sense of chaotic freedom inherent to his more collaborative efforts.

— Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
This approach was meant to counter Vucic's one-man rule and restore a sense of community and solidarity.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of sense

Noun

Feel free to add a blazer or a turtleneck for extra warmth in case your office AC is still on.

— Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2026
Harris offered Mirren further coverage and warmth beneath her gown with black nylon tights, a wardrobe staple for most during the colder months.

— Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of warmth

Noun

The song addresses overcoming adversity and using others’ doubts to fuel your passion.

— Melinda Newman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026
The backstory Saltus is a family-run passion project led by sisters Claudia and Nadja Mumelter, alongside their mother, Hedwig.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of passion

Noun

Garcia and other commissioners complained Miami-Dade was cashing in on a game that glorifies street violence and crime in Miami.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
More than 2,500 people had been taken into police custody by Monday evening, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, after violence that included the burning of a historic town hall in Limoges, a city in central France.

— Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of violence

Browse Nearby Words

emoting

emotion

emotional

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Emotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emotion. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of emotion

noun

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Synonyms of emotion

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to emotion

Name That Emotion

10 Uncommon Emotional Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on emotion

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'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

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Popular in Wordplay

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