SENSES Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

senses 1 of 2

noun

plural of sense

as in feelings

an indefinite physical response to a stimulus a strange sense of discomfort brought on by the room's strong colors

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Relevance

as in meanings

the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action got the general sense of the poem

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senses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sense

as in smells

to have a vague awareness of the deer seemed to sense danger

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as in knows

to have a clear idea of I did not sense the full meaning of his cryptic warning until much later

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 senses

Noun

The plant contains mescaline, a psychoactive compound that alters perception and mood, sharpening the senses and amplifying feelings of empathy and connection. — Pardis Mahdavi, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026 Walking through the rest of the Javits Center outside of the backstage area and 40/40 Club, however, was like having all your senses punched in the face. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 If one starling senses a predator, the signal moves through the flock in seconds. — Gaurav Kapoor, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Like humans, sharks use a melody of senses to interpret the world around them, said Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 Perched along Positano’s cliffs, the hotel soothes the soul and stirs the senses. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 The reign of Republicans during the Civil War and Reconstruction was a democratic breakthrough in two senses. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 However, human problems appear real according to the information gathered from the five corporeal senses. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2026 The five senses are something many of us take for granted, until an illness or disorder causes one to stop working properly. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

Imagine hotels doing the same—where the building senses friction, predicts needs and quietly fixes problems before a guest ever notices. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 After successful demonstration in ground and airborne trials, the company turned its attention to a GravNav, a system that senses changes in gravity fields. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 The cabin sound is enhanced using technology that senses intake pressure and creates a corresponding engine sound routed through the speakers. — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026 Yet Williams senses an opportunity to color outside the lines, to hunt a big play to one of his favorite targets. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Both features are part of the new Health Guardian toolkit, which also includes Breathing Emergency detection that will contact emergency services if the watch senses a persistent drop in oxygen saturation. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 That’s because dishwashers are equipped with something called a turbidity sensor that basically senses the murkiness of the water and adjusts the wash cycle accordingly. — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026 Human existence senses that something impedes it from subsisting. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 Sugar senses something’s amiss here. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 27 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for senses

Noun

But the lingering resentments are probably rooted in your feelings about his grandfather – your brother – and the boy’s parents.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
My feelings about Dudamel as an interpreter have ranged from irritation at his turn-it-up-to-11 showiness to admiration for his ability to make listeners hear music afresh.

— Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of feelings

Verb

The air smells of jasmine, fresh bread from the bakery, and the sea.

— Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Adriatic sage brings the outdoors in—this candle smells like an open window in the height of Italian summer, sunlight on tile floors, and triple servings of pasta to come in the late dusk.

— Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of smells

Verb

Each person knows it, knows that the others know it, and so on indefinitely.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
But the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator knows his unit must show urgency and improvement Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders after a rude wake-up call in the season opener.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of knows

Noun

Prepare for possibly slippery and muddy mosh pits at Shaky Knees or an evening inside because some stormy weather is expected Saturday in Atlanta, even while feels-like temperatures will climb to triple digits.

— Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 19 Sep. 2026
High temperatures will consistently reach the low to mid-90s each afternoon, with ‘feels-like’ temperatures between 100 and 105 degrees.

— Juan Ortega, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of feels

Noun

The contents of the exosomes of those with post-herpetic neuralgia had significantly higher concentrations of proteins known to suppress the growth of neurons.

— Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
Its statement did not address the contents of the video or the merits of the lawsuit.

— Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of contents

Verb

Taking a page from professional players associations, Abruzzo sees sectoral bargaining—where unions and multiple employers set baseline, industry-wide compensation and workplace standards—as the preferable long-term outcome for college athletes.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Later, in her dying moments, Wuornos sees Lizzie beckoning to her.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of sees

Verb

The former head of Google China, who has also held senior executive roles at Microsoft and Apple, understands intimately how Silicon Valley leaders think.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Sacramento State’s team, to a man, understands who and what is invading Hornet Stadium on Saturday night on ESPN, a thundering herd of buffalo rooted in tradition in the form of the North Dakota State Bison.

— Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026