Synonyms of emotion

emotion

noun

i-ˈmō-shən 

1

as in feeling

a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation

my emotions after hearing the shocking news went from utter disbelief to overwhelming sorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insensitivity
• insensitiveness
• unfeelingness

2

as in intensity

depth of feeling

the emotion that the singer is able to instill in "Amazing Grace" is truly stirring

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intensity
• enthusiasm
• intenseness
• warmth
• passionateness
• passion
• violence
• fervor
• heat
• excitement
• fire
• fervency
• vehemence
• tenderness
• zeal
• ardor
• compassion
• white heat
• ardency
• sentimentality
• emotionality
• sympathy
• fervidness
• responsiveness
• emotionalism
• melodrama
• sentiment
• earnestness
• histrionics
• cathexis
• mawkishness
• eagerness
• zest
• infatuation
• gusto
• obsession
• fever
• fanaticism
• sappiness
• mania
• keenness
• hot-bloodedness
• torridness
• torridity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impassivity
• insensitivity
• impassiveness
• insensibility
• composure
• insensitiveness
• calmness
• indifference
• reticence
• dryness
• aloofness
• reserve
• apathy
• phlegm
• taciturnity
• stoicism
• stoniness
• stiffness
• unconcern
• collectedness
• insensibleness
• coldness
• reservedness
• detachedness
• coolness
• chilliness
• frigidity
• woodenness
• frigidness

Synonym Chooser

How is the word emotion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of emotion are affection, feeling, passion, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," 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 might affection be a better fit than emotion?

While in some cases nearly identical to emotion, affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

Where would feeling be a reasonable alternative to emotion?

The meanings of feeling and emotion largely overlap; however, 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 is it sensible to use passion instead of emotion?

While the synonyms passion and emotion are close in meaning, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When is sentiment a more appropriate choice than emotion?

In some situations, the words sentiment and emotion are roughly equivalent. However, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of emotion

No particular couch sticks in my memory, so perhaps these were neutral couches awaiting my emotions to spill out over them. —Wendy C. Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026

Brubaker wasn’t the only Giant showing some emotion on Wednesday night. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026

Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy have been found to be significantly helpful for building self-esteem and coping with difficult emotions. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026

Their innovative treatments, which are defined by the natural elements (Infinity/Air, Fire, and Water/Earth) are designed to evoke specific emotions and draw from the ancient healing arts of Ayurveda. —Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026