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

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

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 The recent increase in bearish sentiment may also suggest equities are due for a near-term pop. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Despite recent consumer sentiment reports that reveal concerns about household income, holiday season spending and the employment outlook, Bank of America’s Holiday Spending Media Roundtable this week painted a more optimistic picture. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Public sentiment toward refugees and migrants has also hardened elsewhere, creating a crisis for nonprofit aid groups. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Last quarter execs cited higher travel prices and weaker consumer sentiment. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentiment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment

Noun

These are songs that iterate and elevate minor party fouls into dramas of symphonic proportion, arrangements that articulate the heightened emotions churning inside anxious minds.

— Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Thomas is anxious, but with death looming, Vision finally nails the conversation he’s been practicing by investing it with real emotion, conviction, and support.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of emotion

Noun

The November election won't settle the tension between firearm freedoms and restrictions, but ballot questions in the two states will provide a gauge of public opinion.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
The November election won't settle the tension between firearm freedoms and restrictions, but the ballot questions will provide a gauge of public opinion.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of opinion

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

The exhibition highlights how trade routes connected the Arabian Gulf, East Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia through the exchange of spices, pearls, textiles, jewelry, and religious beliefs.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
The verdict, Wright says, shattered his belief in both the judicial system and religion.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of belief

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

Someone can always point to a fringe view that’s backed up by a different source somewhere on the Internet.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
One of the two fake videos racked up roughly 857,000 views within 24 hours, according to an analysis by Alethea, a threat intelligence company.

— Shannon Bond, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of view

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

These are songs that iterate and elevate minor party fouls into dramas of symphonic proportion, arrangements that articulate the heightened emotions churning inside anxious minds.

— Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Several opinion polls show that rising costs of living are top of mind for voters ahead of the elections.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of mind

Browse Nearby Words

sentient

sentiment

sentimental

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Style

“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentiment. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sentiment

noun

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Synonyms of sentiment

noun

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