Synonyms of feeling

feeling 1 of 3

noun

ˈfē-liŋ 

1

as in emotion

a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation

an overall feeling of happiness about their new home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• emotion
• chord
• sense
• sentiment
• impression
• attitude
• sensation
• perception
• passion
• mind
• opinion
• perspective
• belief
• viewpoint
• standpoint
• responsiveness
• conviction
• angle
• view
• sensitivity
• judgment
• outlook
• verdict
• notion
• sensibility
• receptivity
• persuasion
• sensitiveness
• receptiveness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insensitivity
• insensitiveness
• unfeelingness

2

as in passions

feelings plural general emotional condition

a remark that thoughtlessly hurt her feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• passions
• mood
• spirit
• sensibilities
• mode
• temper
• humor
• cheer
• frame
• heartstrings

3

as in belief

an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge

an interesting think piece in which the congresswoman expressed her feelings about our nation's most pressing problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

• belief
• opinion
• mind
• view
• impression
• attitude
• conviction
• sentiment
• perception
• notion
• judgment
• verdict
• idea
• thought
• eye
• persuasion
• estimate
• observation
• comment
• assumption
• guess
• estimation
• decision
• concept
• say
• advice
• presumption
• theory
• esteem
• determination
• suggestion
• faith
• reflection
• conception
• viewpoint
• stand
• remark
• hunch
• perspective
• position
• conclusion
• hypothesis
• stance
• recommendation
• take
• conjecture
• credit
• input
• presupposition
• standpoint
• deliverance
• angle
• shoes
• outlook
• credence
• surmise
• obiter dictum
• slant
• counterview

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fact
• truth

4

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

• feel
• sense
• sensation
• impression
• perception
• touch
• suggestion
• hint

5

as in sympathy

sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune

a rich person without much feeling for those who are less fortunate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sympathy
• compassion
• empathy
• regret
• commiseration
• pity
• understanding
• kindness
• sensitivity
• generosity
• mercy
• affinity
• humanity
• condolence
• rapport
• humaneness
• ruth
• magnanimity
• altruism
• goodwill
• kindliness
• humanitarianism
• benevolence
• kindheartedness
• warmheartedness
• softheartedness
• benignity
• largesse
• philanthropy
• charity
• largeheartedness
• bigheartedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• callousness
• heartlessness
• unconcern
• insensitivity
• cruelty
• hatred
• hostility
• coldheartedness
• harshness
• inhumanity
• animosity
• dislike
• hard-heartedness
• antipathy

6

as in kindness

the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune

a woman of great feeling, the princess wanted to use her status and influence to help the needy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sympathy
• kindness
• heart
• feelings
• compassion
• pity
• humanity
• sensitivity
• mercy
• generosity
• commiseration
• ruth
• responsiveness
• love
• kindliness
• regard
• charity
• kindheartedness
• warmheartedness
• sensibility
• largeheartedness
• good-heartedness
• softheartedness
• affection
• bigheartedness
• empathy
• affinity
• rapport
• humanism
• goodwill
• altruism
• humaneness
• humanitarianism
• benevolence
• philanthropy
• benignity
• benignancy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• coldness
• inhumanity
• disinterest
• unconcern
• callousness
• cruelty
• hatred
• mercilessness
• hostility
• pitilessness
• harshness
• coldheartedness
• inhumanness
• animosity
• dislike
• hard-heartedness
• antipathy

feeling

2 of 3

adjective

as in loving

Related Words

• loving
• intense
• warm
• passionate
• emotional
• affectionate
• soulful
• uninhibited
• sentimental
• sensitive
• effusive
• demonstrative
• dramatic
• unreserved
• touchy-feely
• melodramatic
• theatrical
• unrestrained
• histrionic
• mushy
• communicative
• mawkish
• gushy
• expansive
• maudlin
• schmaltzy
• gushing
• outgoing
• hyperemotional
• frank
• extroverted
• outspoken
• blunt
• candid
• plain

Dissimilar Words

• constrained
• silent
• quiet
• reticent
• modest
• shy
• bashful
• indifferent
• retiring
• cold
• detached
• introverted
• aloof
• unconcerned
• dispassionate
• unfeeling
• taciturn
• phlegmatic
• chilly
• stolid
• emotionless
• impassive
• icy
• glacial
• unfriendly
• frigid
• restrained
• inhibited
• reserved
• unemotional
• undemonstrative
• self-directed
• hard-hearted
• hard-edged
• hard-boiled

feeling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of feel

1

as in sensing

to have a vague awareness of

I feel trouble brewing in the town

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sensing
• seeing
• smelling
• noticing
• hearing
• perceiving
• tasting
• realizing
• expecting
• anticipating
• learning
• noting
• discovering
• looking (at)
• remarking
• witnessing
• viewing
• scenting
• guessing
• suspecting
• spying
• beholding
• observing
• regarding
• ascertaining
• discerning
• foreseeing
• sighting
• eyeing
• distinguishing
• assuming
• finding out
• supposing
• espying
• speculating
• presuming
• descrying
• divining
• catching on (to)
• surmising
• conjecturing
• foreknowing

2

as in touching

to come into bodily contact with (something) so as to perceive a slight pressure on the skin

feel this blanket and perceive how soft it is

Synonyms & Similar Words

• touching
• caressing
• embracing
• grasping
• hugging
• kissing
• rubbing
• holding
• gripping
• stroking
• brushing
• fingering
• nudging
• clenching
• fondling
• palpating
• pawing
• clasping
• clutching
• nuzzling
• patting
• knocking
• tapping
• shaving
• handling
• hitting
• clapping
• grazing
• palping
• tipping
• clinging (to)
• flicking
• nosing
• lipping
• pounding
• skimming
• palming
• dabbing
• whacking
• tagging
• chucking
• rapping

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

• experiencing
• having
• undergoing
• enduring
• seeing
• knowing
• suffering
• witnessing
• sustaining
• tasting
• receiving
• going through
• passing
• encountering
• meeting
• accepting
• digesting
• assimilating

4

as in thinking

to have as an opinion

I just feel that we haven't explored all of our options for raising funds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thinking
• believing
• guessing
• considering
• imagining
• figuring
• supposing
• deeming
• judging
• perceiving
• conceiving
• holding
• assuming
• reckoning
• regarding
• allowing
• viewing
• esteeming
• accepting
• depending
• relying
• trusting
• presuming
• concluding
• inferring
• presupposing
• surmising
• deducing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• questioning
• doubting
• suspecting
• rejecting
• distrusting
• mistrusting
• disbelieving
• discrediting

5

as in fumbling

to search for something blindly or uncertainly

the sudden blackout had us feeling around in the dark for a flashlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumbling
• looking
• reaching
• groping
• fishing
• scrabbling
• hunting
• grabbing
• capturing
• seeking (out)
• casting about
• clutching
• getting
• snatching
• seizing
• raking
• grabbling
• combing
• dredging
• scouring
• digging (through)
• rummaging
• nailing
• ransacking
• rifling
• nabbing
• corralling

6

as in seeming

to give the impression of being

it felt like a good idea at the time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seeming
• looking
• sounding
• acting
• appearing
• making
• pretending
• coming off (as)
• coming across (as)
• resembling
• suggesting
• implying
• recalling
• hinting
• dissembling
• insinuating

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

Recent Examples of feeling

Noun

The city’s decision — and lack of significant repairs over the three-week period — has left tenants at the property feeling betrayed. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026

Simpson remembers what that feeling was like; being called upon second. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

Create healthy boundaries around activities that might leave you feeling depleted or exhausted, such as unnecessary social media scrolling. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026

Music takes on a different purpose by mid-August—who isn’t feeling a little lazy and crooked by now, spiritually overserved and ready for a nap? — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026