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 Quincy Taylor, who took over as 21st Century’s coach during the season, expressed similar sentiments about Triplett. Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026 Fennell, for her part, seems to side with the latter sentiment. Megan McCluskey, Time, 13 Feb. 2026 In a working paper, Gülcan Sağlam and I found that sentiment toward the Turkish ruling party is not predictable by demographic profile, nor is it counteracted by integration or support for liberal European Union parties. Michael Paarlberg, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026 Other lawmakers from the video expressed similar sentiments. James Powel, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentiment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment
Noun
  • Mostly, however, Gee’s sophisticated, stealthily moving film folds any bursts of emotion into its exquisitely dark shadows, letting Evans’ limpid but heartsore music do most of the weeping.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Throughout, emotion churns and chafes against a backdrop of political unrest, corporate malfeasance, and the everyday horrors that erode modern life.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Poll position The SEC has a higher opinion of itself than voters in the Associated Press top 25 poll.
    Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Better than last year, in my opinion.
    Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The manipulations also affected how much sadness and anger participants reported feeling while scrolling.
    Simon Makin, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Like the 1939 film, all five of these movies adapt the first part of the novel by focusing on Cathy and Heathcliff’s romantic (if destructive) feelings for each other, while excluding the second half of the novel in which Heathcliff exhibits some of his worst behavior.
    Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • According to reporting by The New York Times, births in 1966 fell sharply amid a belief that girls born in a Fire Horse year would bring misfortune to their future husbands.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Shaped by biblical ethics, nonviolence, and the belief that justice is indivisible, his framework refused the logic of zero-sum morality.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Dissonant chords are overlaid with misty reverberation.
    Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The chords and the creativity and the iconic style.
    Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The event will focus on wisdom and wellness, featuring engaging speakers, meaningful conversations, and breathtaking coastal views paired with exceptional cuisine, according to a news release.
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The bill also includes confidentiality provisions that indicate information on serious reportable events relayed to DIAL by a professional licensing board, as well as any corrective action plans, are to be sealed from public view.
    Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Much of the crowd has–or knows someone who has, contributed to the sense of community that permeates the space.
    Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • As a three-term Mecklenburg County commissioner, my daily concern is delivering common-sense solutions to our problems as efficiently as possible to keep the tax rate low.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Naumov doesn’t enter with the same pressure as Malinin but has already exceeded expectations in his mind.
    Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
  • For the launch colorway, a vivid graphic may initially bring to mind heat maps with its application of blue, green, yellow and red — but the choice was actually made to invoke a temporal fold, a theoretical concept of bending spacetime to move faster than the speed of light.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentiment. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

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