opinion

noun

ə-ˈpin-yən How to pronounce opinion (audio)
Definition of opinionnext
1
as in belief
an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge a number of voters expressed the opinion that all politicians, regardless of party affiliation, are corrupt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decision
a position arrived at after consideration after reviewing the evidence, the athletic board came to the opinion that the team be disqualified for recruiting violations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun opinion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of opinion are belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment, and view. While all these words mean "a judgment one holds as true," opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute.

each expert seemed to have a different opinion

When is it sensible to use belief instead of opinion?

While in some cases nearly identical to opinion, belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent.

a firm belief in her party's platform

When can conviction be used instead of opinion?

The meanings of conviction and opinion largely overlap; however, conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief.

the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human

When might persuasion be a better fit than opinion?

In some situations, the words persuasion and opinion are roughly equivalent. However, persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth.

was of the persuasion that everything changes

When is sentiment a more appropriate choice than opinion?

The words sentiment and opinion can be used in similar contexts, but sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings.

her feminist sentiments are well-known

In what contexts can view take the place of opinion?

The words view and opinion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, view suggests a subjective opinion.

very assertive in stating his views

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 opinion Thank you, Steve Bousquet, for sticking with the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board’s opinion on the pay raises Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy bullied through under a shroud of dark and unethical actions. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 July 2025 Numerous artists have been penalized for voicing their political opinions on stage in recent months. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025 Splitting out Republican voters, 40% approved of Trump’s handling of Epstein, while 36% disapproved and 24% offered no opinion. —Chris Brennan, USA Today, 18 July 2025 Some people have very strong opinions on this topic. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for opinion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opinion
  1. belief
  2. decision
  3. view
  4. verdict
  5. mind
  6. conclusion
  7. attitude
  8. determination
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
Definition of belief
Noun
  • The people who make things, and the people who make decisions about making things.
    — Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2025
  • The plummeting price could be attributed to OPEC’s decision to heavily increase production in May, June, and July of this year.
    — David Trainer, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of decision
Noun
  • An aerial view shows homes burned in the Eaton Fire on February 05, 2025, in Altadena, California.
    — Umair Irfan, Wired News, 19 July 2025
  • In their view, emotions were not a distraction from rational thinking but a vital component of it.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Definition of view
Noun
  • Erin, who had been awaiting the verdict at the courthouse since deliberations began on Thursday, openly wept upon hearing the verdict of the first count read aloud.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025
  • In the verdict’s wake, the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) solidified an alliance with USA Gymnastics to officially sanction its competitions.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of verdict
Noun
  • Keep in mind that buckwheat can cause allergic reactions in certain people (especially in Asian countries), particularly if eaten frequently or in large amounts.
    — Caroline Tien, SELF, 15 July 2025
  • Moreover, Kremlin insiders suspect that the 50-day window before any new US sanctions hit is plenty of time for their military push in Ukraine to pay off – or, failing that, for a notoriously changeable President Trump to change his mind on Russia once again.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
Definition of mind
Noun
  • In fact… The Chinese military does use Nvidia chips, according to research by Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, which analyzed 66,000 military purchasing records to come to that conclusion.
    — Billy Perrigo, Time, 15 July 2025
  • The series came to a dramatic conclusion on Sunday, July 23, when Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales were crowned season 7’s winners.
    — Erin Clements, People.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of conclusion
Noun
  • The reports are good: his attitude has been normal and his application during the pre-season conditioning tests has been of a high standard.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 July 2025
  • Staley said Moore’s football chops, knowledge and coaching attitude come from his dad.
    — Shaun Goodwin July 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2025
Definition of attitude
Noun
  • Distributions to heirs or charitable contributions can be made by the determination of an independent trustee.
    — Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • However, their passion for the sport and determination led to changes in the rules, allowing Muslim women to compete in full-body uniforms at both collegiate and national levels.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 July 2025
Definition of determination

Browse Nearby Words

opining
opinion
opinionated
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Cite this Entry

“Opinion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opinion. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on opinion

Nglish: Translation of opinion for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about opinion

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