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 Stoddard encourages clients to try new coping tools during low-stakes moments, when their emotions are relatively mellow. — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 How to deal with emotions What’s Martin’s biggest piece of advice? — Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 Rather, the country legend and entrepreneur prefers to channel most of her emotions and beliefs through her songwriting. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 German consumers, in her account, scrutinize ingredients and health claims more closely than most, while British consumers respond more to emotion and nostalgia. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emotion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emotion

Noun

But such is the strength of feeling, former Love managing director Letty Kavanagh has launched twin lawsuits against Sky for wrongful dismissal and unpaid severance, as revealed by Deadline this month.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
And Imax aims to up the ante on that feeling with a fully immersive viewing experience supported by the largest screens along with the company's proprietary projection system and film cameras, Gelfond says.

— Kamaron McNair Juhohn Lee, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeling

Noun

Even with the intensity of Conor Gallagher leading the press in front of them, Chelsea were regularly carved open in defensive transition and conceded 63 goals in the Premier League in 2023-24.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Ruby Hobbs-Leffler felt things with an intensity that even a smart little girl with a big vocabulary couldn’t put into words.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of intensity

Noun

The script’s political dimension also struck a chord with Cruz and Bardem, both activists.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Playing in a seedy Bowery bar to a small group of fellow struggling musicians, the band struck a chord of disharmony that rocked the foundation of the mid-seventies music scene.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of chord

Noun

Nvidia posted blockbuster second-quarter results, and the enthusiasm is spilling over into other parts of the semiconductor sector.

— Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Younger consumers' enthusiasm for fall, a desire to plan ahead and retailers' efforts to extend seasonal spending may all be helping drive the shift.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of enthusiasm

Noun

In its evaluation, the committee cited the film’s polished craftsmanship and the clarity of its directorial vision, pointing to the tone and mise-en-scène that sustain a sense of pressure throughout the story.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
To channel this sense of joyful minimalism, pair a bold color with playful accents, rich textures, and meaningful décor that brings personality to the space without overwhelming it.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sense

Noun

Watching a haunting play out in the moment around a thousand strangers gives the thing an odd and interesting warmth.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Lulu & Georgia's velvet is particularly cozy, and the texture adds warmth without asking anything else of the room.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of warmth

Noun

Carly keeps taking her new passion further, apparently spending all her tuition money on shooting a music video and renting a venue for a live performance plus merch and catering.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Parton’s passion projects were wide-ranging, from literacy and graduation rates in her home state to bald eagle conservation to donations for the development of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of passion

Browse Nearby Words

emoting

emotion

emotional

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Style

“Emotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emotion. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of emotion

noun

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Synonyms of emotion

noun

Synonym Chooser

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