feeling 1 of 3

1
2
as in passions
feelings plural general emotional condition a remark that thoughtlessly hurt her feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in feel
an indefinite physical response to a stimulus that odd feeling of forward movement you get when the parked car next to you backs out

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6

feeling

2 of 3

verb

present participle of feel
1
2
3
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it with the birth of their first child the couple came to feel true happiness for the first time

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
6

feeling

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word feeling distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of feeling are affection, emotion, passion, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," 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 affection be used instead of feeling?

The words affection and feeling can be used in similar contexts, 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?

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 passion be used to replace feeling?

The words passion and feeling are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When might sentiment be a better fit than feeling?

The meanings of sentiment and feeling largely overlap; 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 feeling
Verb
The uncanny feeling these images conjure is complemented by much more direct shots of daily life, beauty pageants, and church services, as well as men running from cops and navigating life in prison. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025 Talk about Gladys’ feelings when Billy does not speak up for her, doesn’t even seek her hand. Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025 Some unresolved feelings between Susie and her ex, Justin Glaze, will also be confronted, according to ABC. Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025 Businesses themselves have to discover what the new way of thinking, speaking, feeling, acting and interacting might mean for their own workplace and their own business. Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for feeling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feeling
Noun
  • Each timepiece and every game tells a story of strategy, precision and emotion.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
  • Naturally, the release of those chemicals follows the completion of a race, which can lead to an outpouring of emotions for those who exert themselves during a marathon, Consuelos said.
    EW.com, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Your professional passions will soar or fizzle out when Venus retrograde meets the sun.
    USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Magnets, immersion programs, and charter schools add flavors to public education but hardly cover the waterfront of interests and passions.
    Ryan Craig, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Some examples might include: Faith – Avoiding investments in companies that conflict with your beliefs.
    James Brewer, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Manning spoke out about Williams and shared his belief that Johnson will be exactly what the doctor ordered for the young quarterback.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Just off the sand, antique shops and farm stands along the streets of Southampton give it a small-town feel.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
  • The breezy capri length hits just right for warm days, offering an airy feel without going full short.
    Taylor Jean Stephan, People.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • This compared to 28 percent who had sympathy for the royals and 68 percent who had either not very much or none.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
  • Finally, Trump Seems to Get Putin Then came this week’s weapons deal along with more sympathy for Ukraine and more praise for NATO and its leader.
    Tom Nagorski, Time, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • But his message will resound of kindness and creativity.
    Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • The microwaved grape trick also shows their promise as alternative microwave resonators for quantum sensing applications, according to the authors of this latest paper.
    Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Feline eyes also contain the same color-sensing cones as humans, but this doesn't mean our visions are the same, VCA Animal Hospitals reports.
    Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • While established players often tout the breadth of their offerings, nimble and focused cybersecurity solutions are more likely to win the trust of forward-thinking CISOs and enterprises.
    James Winebrenner, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Investors expect executives to articulate AI's role in their strategies, and top talent gravitates toward forward-thinking organizations.
    Paul Baier, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Feeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feeling. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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