feeling 1 of 3

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as in passions
feelings plural general emotional condition a remark that thoughtlessly hurt her feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in feel
an indefinite physical response to a stimulus that odd feeling of forward movement you get when the parked car next to you backs out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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feeling

2 of 3

verb

present participle of feel
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3
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it with the birth of their first child the couple came to feel true happiness for the first time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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feeling

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word feeling distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of feeling are affection, emotion, passion, and sentiment. While all these words 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

When can affection be used instead of feeling?

The words affection and feeling can be used in similar contexts, 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?

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 passion be used to replace feeling?

The words passion and feeling are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When might sentiment be a better fit than feeling?

The meanings of sentiment and feeling largely overlap; 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 feeling
Verb
John and Anna McBride, another couple celebrating Anna McBride's naturalization, talked about the complicated feelings the ceremony brought up. Hannah Dreyfus, AZCentral.com, 5 July 2025 Trump's suggestion of help for Ukraine and his feeling that Putin is dragging his feet over any peace deal could add pressure on Moscow. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025 Jackie develops feelings for two of the Walter brothers: reliable Alex (Gentry) and troubled Cole (LaLonde). Claire Franken, TVLine, 5 July 2025 And Claus Porto nails that brief here: Fresh, aromatic lavender and rosemary give it that clean feeling (like you’ve just been dusted off after a haircut); vetiver gives it that old-school sharpness; and oakmoss adds that signature chypre zeal. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for feeling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feeling
Noun
  • Pay attention to their body language, tone of voice, and underlying emotions.
    Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Wedding planning brought excitement and emotion, but also a surprise challenge Madi didn’t see coming.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Your professional passions will soar or fizzle out when Venus retrograde meets the sun.
    USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Magnets, immersion programs, and charter schools add flavors to public education but hardly cover the waterfront of interests and passions.
    Ryan Craig, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Grow by leaving awesome LinkedIn comments Identify your strongest beliefs Your commenting strategy needs a theme.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • While Combs' reputation might precede him in the eyes of some potential jurors, to be seated on the final jury, individuals need to vow to set those beliefs aside.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Go prim and proper with a column silhouette from Emilia Wickstead, or lean into the fairytale feel with a floaty chiffon number from McQueen.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 30 June 2025
  • Fashion houses such as Hugo Boss and Michael Kors leverage these fibers’ sophisticated feel and drape for premium garments where tactile experience drives consumer perception of quality.
    SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Fans, followers and fellow parents took to the comment section to share their sympathy — and confusion.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025
  • Richard, his family, and his counsel express their deep and sincere sympathy for the family of Edwina Marter.
    Khaleda Rahman Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Lunches, meetings, phone calls, always Mark’s delicious southern drawl infusing us with his spirit and kindness.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 July 2025
  • Politeness and kindness are attributes that parents want to reinforce and encourage in their children.
    Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • The microwaved grape trick also shows their promise as alternative microwave resonators for quantum sensing applications, according to the authors of this latest paper.
    Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Feline eyes also contain the same color-sensing cones as humans, but this doesn't mean our visions are the same, VCA Animal Hospitals reports.
    Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • While established players often tout the breadth of their offerings, nimble and focused cybersecurity solutions are more likely to win the trust of forward-thinking CISOs and enterprises.
    James Winebrenner, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Investors expect executives to articulate AI's role in their strategies, and top talent gravitates toward forward-thinking organizations.
    Paul Baier, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Feeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feeling. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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