Definition of SENTIMENT (original) (raw)
1
a
: an attitude, thought, or judgment prompted by feeling : predilection
b
: a specific view or notion : opinion
2
b
: refined feeling : delicate sensibility especially as expressed in a work of art
3
a
: an idea colored by emotion
b
: the emotional significance of a passage or expression as distinguished from its verbal context
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for sentiment
feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion 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
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
affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.
a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family
sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.
her feminist sentiments are well known
passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.
revenge became his ruling passion
each expert seemed to have a different opinion
view suggests a subjective opinion.
very assertive in stating his views
belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent.
a firm belief in her party's platform
conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief.
the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human
persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth.
was of the persuasion that everything changes
sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings.
her feminist sentiments are well-known
Examples of sentiment in a Sentence
His criticism of the court's decision expresses a sentiment that is shared by many people. an expression of antiwar sentiments She likes warmth and sentiment in a movie. You have to be tough to succeed in the business world. There's no room for sentiment.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Tusk’s party will also try to undercut the right’s hold on anti-immigration sentiment by focusing on border protection tougher laws. —Ian Bremmer, Time, 21 June 2025 With most investors having a neutral sentiment about the overall market, later-stage companies offering a shared meaning can stand out by leveraging commercial relationships in their network. —
John Hall, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 Graham shared a similar sentiment when speaking with PEOPLE in 2024, clapping back against the societal message that women are undesirable or disposable in their 50s. —
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 20 June 2025 Amid book banning, border policies, new anti-DEI sentiments and federal library grant cuts, these are the ways the new administration may impact readers. —
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sentiment
Word History
Etymology
French or Medieval Latin; French, from Medieval Latin sentimentum, from Latin sentire
First Known Use
1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of sentiment was in 1639
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Cite this Entry
“Sentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentiment. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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Last Updated: 24 Jun 2025 - Updated example sentences
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