feeling

¹feel·ing

noun \ˈfē-liŋ\

Definition of FEELING

1

a (1) : the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic : touch (2) : a sensation experienced through this sense b : generalized bodily consciousness or sensation c : appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition

2

a : an emotional state or reaction <a kindly feeling toward the boy> b plural : susceptibility to impression : sensitivity <the remark hurt her feelings>

3

a : the undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought b : the overall quality of one's awareness c : conscious recognition : sense

4

a : often unreasoned opinion or belief : sentiment b : presentiment

5

: capacity to respond emotionally especially with the higher emotions

6

: the character ascribed to something : atmosphere

7

a : the quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist b : sympathetic aesthetic response

8

: feel 4

Examples of FEELING

1. I noticed tingling feelings in my fingers.
2. She had a queasy feeling in her stomach.
3. I had the feeling of something crawling across my foot.
4. We enjoyed the feeling of walking barefoot in the sand.
5. He had no feeling in his right leg.
6. He's been troubled by feelings of guilt.
7. There's no point in trying to hide your feelings.
8. He spoke with feeling about the injustice he had seen.
9. Have you no feeling for the plight of the homeless?
10. I can see that you have strong feelings about this subject.

First Known Use of FEELING

12th century

Related to FEELING

Synonyms: chord, emotion, passion, sentiment

Antonyms: callousness, coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, heartlessness

Related Words: impression, perception, sensation, sense; angle, attitude, outlook, perspective, standpoint, viewpoint; belief, conviction, judgment (or judgement), mind, notion, opinion, persuasion, verdict, view; receptiveness, receptivity, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity

Near Antonyms: insensitiveness, insensitivity, unfeelingness

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Synonym Discussion of FEELING

feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion mean a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation. 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>. 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>. affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings <a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family>. sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea <her feminist sentiments are well known>. passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion <revenge became his ruling passion>.

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with FEELING

ceiling, dealing, Ealing, peeling, wheeling