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

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 emotion The soundtrack here is an important counterpoint to the visual impact, transporting the viewer into a subconscious state that connects them with their deepest emotions and life memories. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025 Just all of these conflicting, strange emotions. Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025 Many people in the Reddit community responded to the post, agreeing that OP wasn't in the wrong for his emotions and feelings. Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025 She’s fallen under the sway of a fashionable worldview in which logic is paramount, and the realm of emotion and magic and even dæmons is just childish fancy. Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for emotion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emotion
Noun
  • There is an organic, honest feeling to Paulsen’s training.
    Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The loss was an unfamiliar feeling for the Dodgers, who had only dropped one game this entire postseason entering Friday.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That’s why Mazzulla upped the intensity at training camp.
    Jay King, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • There’s that kind of intensity and fuel that has fanned the fire of Mirador in someways that’s really elevated the band and the performances.
    Gary Graff, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • His self-tape had struck a chord.
    Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Her TikTok struck a chord with viewers who flooded the comments section with their own memories.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Hawks might whip up enthusiasm by waving a bloody shirt or recalling a stab in the back.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • And one thing about Andrew that is important to remember is that his enthusiasm is a certain kind of spiritually connected chaos that anyone could do with at any age, at any point in their life.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This, plus the ongoing calls among family members, maintains a powerful sense of human connection and love.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The move turned out to be a blessing for Harrison, who has felt a sense of relief since leaving the dating show.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The dress is made from a fine-gauge knit that offers warmth without feeling bulky, which is essential for fluctuating weather.
    Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Your words facilitate warmth and connection today.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • His children inspired his barbecue sauce line After leaving the NFL, Mangold put his passion for food into a barbecue sauce line, known as Mangold's 74 BBQ.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • From farmers and engineers to food safety specialists and packaging workers, Taylor Farms employs thousands who share a passion for producing fresh, healthy food.
    William Jones, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As Ali and her brother hid under a blanket, violence exploded around them.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Jackson imagined the Shire as idyllic beyond measure — cozy cottages dug into the landscape's gentle green slopes, totally free of the conflict and violence that the saga's Hobbit quartet eventually learn lie just beyond its borders.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Emotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emotion. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on emotion

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