Definition of sentimentnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sentiment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sentiment are affection, emotion, feeling, and passion. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

In what contexts can affection take the place of sentiment?

The synonyms affection and sentiment are sometimes interchangeable, 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, in the sense of sentiment?

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 feeling be used to replace sentiment?

The words feeling and sentiment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 passion be used instead of sentiment?

The meanings of passion and sentiment largely overlap; however, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

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 sentiment These changes can drag on already-lackluster consumer sentiment while further elevating affordability as a leading political issue. Alex Harring,itzel Franco, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026 This isn’t just sentiment; 57% of large enterprises have continued all of their initiatives without change, even in the face of public risk. Sona Khosla, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026 As tributes poured in Wednesday, colleagues, fans and peers echoed similar sentiments across social media. Tobias Bass, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026 During his confirmation hearing last year, Bhattacharya said he was convinced by the data showing no connection between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism—a sentiment that Kennedy refused to convey during his own hearing. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentiment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment
Noun
  • For many Iranians, the war stirs a complicated mix of emotions.
    Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
  • In Minnesota, where many are reeling from the recent large-scale immigration crackdown, Ramadan came amid a powerful mix of emotions, according to Imam Yusuf Abdulle.
    Luis Andres Henao, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Thanks to the anonymity of the internet, users are more than welcome to voice their opinions on the latest political decision or cultural happening.
    Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Throughout his career, Wegmann has spent considerable time researching the impact of affordable housing initiatives, and in his opinion, if properly funded and managed, taxpayer subsidies can have a positive impact.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The ability of a single image to evoke feelings of hope and acceptance in some viewers while unsettling others is a fascinating reality of our culture and one Opie is unbothered by.
    Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
  • That’s how James Dutton, a 24-year-old social media account manager in Cincinnati, described the feeling of waking up to a flurry of bank notifications in a video posted to YouTube last month.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And while the play might have happened on defense, there is a belief the sense of pride and confidence that came with it could extend to all parts of his game.
    Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Her propulsive new book, Driven, traces a life shaped by that belief—from racing her brother on a 50cc bike in Oban, Scotland, at six, to entering the Kart World Championship at 14 as the only girl in the paddock.
    Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The company — which has 70 million users worldwide — also touts tools to detect and change song keys or to detect and generate the correct guitar chords for songs.
    Angela Yang, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Jagged sheets of tension and dissonance from Reichard and Masri get swept up in the mellow simplicity of her bending chords, and every twinge and twang brings a rush of feeling.
    H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Nicholas Wu’s view Democrats are able to set war powers votes on their own terms right now.
    Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
  • But the post-Covid inflation surge is clear evidence, in Warsh's view, that the Fed has been looking at the wrong factors.
    Matt Peterson, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The small, walkable village of Tubac is the ideal destination for a day trip or weekend getaway, one with dozens of unique galleries that embrace a sense of place in the Sonoran Desert.
    Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
  • But there was something profound about the sense of connection and engagement that all kinds of writing gave him.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Feeling unwell and still adjusting to the weekly grind of the ATP Tour, the Irvine native exited in the first round and quickly scratched it from his mind.
    Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • While helping a small business deploy AI tools or securing land for a data center facility might not make for a thrilling Shark Tank pitch, in O’Leary’s mind, both opportunities could make some 25-year-olds very rich.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentiment. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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