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 Deadline encountered the same sentiment from multiple sources in the ESPN orbit in recent days, who noted that the big game is nearly four months away, leaving time for some climate change. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026 But anti-Trump sentiment is still driving people to the protests. — Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 Democratic strategists say the messaging reflects the sentiment of voters. — Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 New York — Tech stocks had a tumultuous week as concerns, including higher interest rates and mounting AI debt, continued to weigh on investor sentiment. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentiment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentiment
Noun
  • These are songs that iterate and elevate minor party fouls into dramas of symphonic proportion, arrangements that articulate the heightened emotions churning inside anxious minds.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Thomas is anxious, but with death looming, Vision finally nails the conversation he’s been practicing by investing it with real emotion, conviction, and support.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • One of Bilton and Weiss’s signature new on-air hires is the conservative writer Ross Douthat, formerly an opinion columnist for the Times.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Much of its work, particularly on national security matters, remains shielded from public view, but some of the office’s conclusions have emerged in often dense legal opinions.
    — Perry Stein, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Who would want the callous world that successfully cloistered the feelings of others?
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Leipold, in his sixth season in Lawrence, has come to understand the equal and opposite feeling on the Kansas side and opened up about it after the game.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The exhibition highlights how trade routes connected the Arabian Gulf, East Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia through the exchange of spices, pearls, textiles, jewelry, and religious beliefs.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The verdict, Wright says, shattered his belief in both the judicial system and religion.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Turturro admires Harry’s old-school pride in his craft, but the character’s devotion to his ailing wife struck a deeper chord.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Twisted Teens joked they were contractually obligated to write a grunge song after signing to Sub Pop, prompting Billiard to claim that modifying any Beatles chord progression to stay major instead of going minor gets the job done.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Some markets are allowing individuals to express views on economic, political or business outcomes, while others hone in on sports, entertainment and pop culture events.
    — Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • For the best views look 40-90 degrees away from the radiant, where the glowing trains left in the wake of the fast-moving meteors will be at their longest.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Investors should also look at a fund's 30-day SEC yield to get a sense of what the company is generating in terms of income.
    — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Government buildings were vandalized in multiple cities, contributing to a sense of national crisis that could boost leading far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen six months before elections.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • These are songs that iterate and elevate minor party fouls into dramas of symphonic proportion, arrangements that articulate the heightened emotions churning inside anxious minds.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Several opinion polls show that rising costs of living are top of mind for voters ahead of the elections.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentiment. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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