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 As war fatigue deepens, politicians are increasingly exploiting anti-refugee sentiment for political gain. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Such polls measure public sentiment, but later surveys limited to voters most likely to cast ballots could provide more insight. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026 That rally-'round-the-flag sentiment at a time of peril would shatter as time passed. — Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 At the same time, the Joint Staff echoed the commanders’ sentiment. — Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentiment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment

Noun

Set in the high-stakes world of academia, The Love Hypothesis explores the delicate dance between science and emotion, reason and risk—and what happens when love defies logic.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Todd, who produces the film, recalls the emotions of visiting the set for the first time, during a scene that struck a personal chord with her experience with her son.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of emotion

Noun

The family explored private healthcare for another opinion, but the first consultation didn’t go to plan.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
The ruling Thursday said the newspaper did not have sufficient cause to terminate Karen Attiah, who at the time was the last Black full-time member of the Post’s opinion desk.

— Corey Williams, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of opinion

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

Contrary to popular belief, good skin care doesn’t require you to blow through your entire beauty maintenance budget.

— Essence Wiley, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
The attention Everytime received in Cannes – and now the jury’s confidence in the film – reinforce our belief that cinema needs distinctive voices with the courage to follow their own form and, precisely by doing so, reach audiences across borders.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of belief

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

And although, as a survey-style telescope, Roman boasts a wider, faster view of the sky than either Hubble or JWST, McEnery emphasized that doesn’t make these more focused missions obsolete.

— Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
In IconArrows pointing outwards A key feature of the turn into September, which begins a year's third and final act, is that analysts and investors start to calibrate their views of next year.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of view

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

On his mind are various ideas for addressing social upheaval.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
While the settlement may put Meta investors' minds at ease for now, while setting a perhaps reassuring precedent for the rest of social media, analysts don't think the Mark Zuckerberg company is completely out of the legal woods.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 26 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sentiment

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Synonyms of sentiment

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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7 Words for When You're Feeling...

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