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

adjective

feeling

3 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

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
Noun
Preparation for the tournament could barely have been any worse, so Pochettino will hope to use the run of games to develop a more positive feeling around the team. Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 June 2025 And while neither is immune to the electrifying jolt of uncovering a great deal, their goal is to temper the familiar feeling of getting caught up in the moment with versatile, seasonless finds. Talia Abbas, Vogue, 11 June 2025 Like being trapped in a fever dream or moving through a liminal space, the stories play with the feeling of wrongness, of things out of place. Nick Romano, EW.com, 11 June 2025 With a state-of-the-art new factory and a Honda works engine supply arriving from 2026, the feeling has long been that Aston’s foundations are coming together. Luke Smith, New York Times, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for feeling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feeling
Noun
  • The emerging British singer brought a lot of heart and emotion to the performance.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • In a battle defined by grit and high emotions, the Miami Hurricanes fell to the Louisville Cardinals, 3-2, in Game 3 of the NCAA Louisville Super Regional.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • Your professional passions will soar or fizzle out when Venus retrograde meets the sun.
    USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Events like these enhance the school experience and provide opportunities for students to learn from one another by showcasing their talents and passions, the news release stated.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Resilient leadership requires an unparalleled ability to adapt without compromising core values, beliefs or foundational principles.
    Novena Riojas, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • By taking these assumptions and beliefs about hair’s relationship to the body seriously, this book reveals how nineteenth-century Americans came to understand their hair as a body part capable of indexing each person’s race, gender, and national belonging.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • This San Carlos Embroidered Linen Blend Mini Skirt has a high-rise fit and is made from mostly linen for a soft, lightweight feel.
    Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2025
  • For a spa-like feel, Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar, suggests the shade Fragile Blue.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Infused with equal parts outrage and sympathy, the song is a must-listen in these trying times.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
  • There was little sympathy for the congressman’s words among the 100 or so protesters who turned out for the news conference held at the bottom of the building’s west steps.
    John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Critically, the Predator’s language is translated so that the three warriors can understand their captors, but that kindness does not extend to letting the prisoners understand each other.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 June 2025
  • But in the fleet, pacey manner of the editing, toggling between private and public moments with highlight-reel efficiency, the film is a stirring glimpse of top-down kindness as a winning leadership style.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • Yo La Tengo’s 1997 feedback-guitar version is one of the most loving Beach Boys tributes.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
  • This is a group of people who have welcomed her in like family and are very loving to Tina and kind to her.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 12 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Feeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feeling. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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