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

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verb

present participle of feel
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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

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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
Such ambiguity works to the film’s advantage, as Leonberg focuses on Indy’s face and lets audiences project our own feelings onto the cocked head, the questioning expression, his brows arched in either curiosity or concern. Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025 Taking on many lovers, Lowell fell in love with one man in particular, though the feeling was not mutual. Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
In March, Spelling opened up to PEOPLE about her journey to feeling confident. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 Residents reported feeling the main earthquake in every Bay Area county, and as far south as Monterey and as far north as Sacramento, according to the USGS. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for feeling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feeling
Noun
  • Swift’s 149-show, five-continent expedition encapsulated a tsunami of emotions not just among her fans, but her own journey through a very public breakup, a fling and, as indicated by her engagement to Kelce, knee-buckling love.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Each verse is a heartfelt exploration of sorrow, capturing the complexity of human emotions in the face of separation.
    Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Seeking out the world’s rarest novelties is one of Prosper Assouline‘s greatest passions.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The competitors are diverse and offer new perspectives and passions for the game, according to CBS.
    Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Each item is intimately tied to the library space, reinforcing Assouline’s belief that a library is not merely a room but a sanctuary for ideas, aesthetics, and meaningful objects.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Nevertheless, analysts expressed confidence in the business, including a belief that AWS can return to topline growth north of 20%.
    Kevin Stankiewicz,Paulina Likos, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Switching to pricier papers specifically designed for inkjets can boost an ink tank printer's text quality and line graphics to at least match a laser, but the different paper types have a noticeably different feel than standard plain paper.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
  • It was used on pretty pumps and as a panel on suede ballerina sneakers, giving the athletic style an elegant feel.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There is some sympathy for Potter among the players that this situation is not all his fault.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Kneeling was widely used by protesters and supporters after Floyd’s death to signal sympathy with the Black Lives Matter movement and a call for racial justice.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Our small kindnesses to each other.
    Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The most vulnerable among us deserve the most respect, most compassion, and most kindness.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The same quantum sensing tech is now entering hospitals.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Using infrared heat-sensing and other thermal imaging technology, a drone pilot can easily find a bear — even in a dense forest or other heavy cover.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Any area where people are touching the same surfaces can be a risk, and people can get infected from touching items in those areas.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The broad market index started the day modestly higher, touching a new all-time intraday high, before fizzling a bit and trading near the flatline.
    Kevin Stankiewicz,Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Feeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feeling. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

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