feeling
Americannoun
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the function or the power of perceiving by touch.
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physical sensation not connected with sight, hearing, taste, or smell.
Deep tissue massage can involve both painful and pleasant feelings.
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a particular physical sensation not connected with sight, hearing, taste, or smell.
a feeling of warmth;
a feeling of pain.
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the general state of consciousness considered independently of particular sensations, thoughts, etc.
-
a consciousness or vague awareness.
a feeling of inferiority.
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an emotion or emotional perception or attitude.
a feeling of joy;
a feeling of sorrow.
- Synonyms:
- sentiment, sensitivity, tenderness, empathy, sympathy
- Antonyms:
- apathy
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capacity for emotion, especially compassion.
The charity staff have great feeling for the sufferings of others.
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a sentiment; attitude; opinion.
The general feeling was in favor of the proposal.
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feelings, sensibilities; susceptibilities.
A harsh reply could hurt her feelings.
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fine emotional endowment.
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(in music, art, etc.)
-
emotion or sympathetic perception revealed by an artist in their work.
Though elegant, it was a poem without feeling.
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the general impression conveyed by a work.
Landscape paintings with a spacious feeling are very popular in small homes.
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sympathetic appreciation, as of music.
The pianist was known for his ability to play with feeling.
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adjective
-
- Antonyms:
- cold
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readily affected by emotion; sympathetic.
A feeling heart could not be unaffected by this tragic story.
- Synonyms:
- passionate, impassioned
-
indicating or characterized by emotion.
The defendant's speech gave a feeling reply to the charge.
noun
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the sense of touch
-
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the ability to experience physical sensations, such as heat, pain, etc
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the sensation so experienced
-
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a state of mind
-
a physical or mental impression
a feeling of warmth
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fondness; sympathy
to have a great deal of feeling for someone
-
an ability to feel deeply
a person of feeling
-
a sentiment
a feeling that the project is feasible
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an impression or mood; atmosphere
the feeling of a foreign city
-
an emotional disturbance, esp anger or dislike
a lot of bad feeling about the increase in taxes
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intuitive appreciation and understanding
a feeling for words
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sensibility in the performance of something
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(plural) emotional or moral sensitivity, as in relation to principles or personal dignity (esp in the phrase hurt or injure the feelings of )
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to be emotionally or sexually attracted to
adjective
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sentient; sensitive
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expressing or containing emotion
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warm-hearted; sympathetic
Usage
What are other ways to say feeling?
A feeling is a particular sensation or an emotional perception or attitude. What’s the difference between feeling, emotion, passion, and sentiment? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of feeling
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English; see origin at feel ( def. ), -ing 1 ( def. ), -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
A physical sensation is a feeling. When you sit on your foot so long that it falls asleep, you'll first have no feeling in it, and then you'll have a terrible "pins and needles" feeling. An intuitive sense about something can also be called a feeling. Your bad feeling about the field trip is justified when another kid throws up on you while riding the roller coaster. A vague sense or belief can also be referred to as a feeling. In your town, there is a general feeling that the library should stay open on Sundays, but you should make up your own mind.
Vocabulary lists containing feeling
Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 2)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Feeling for bumps and other cranial features, practitioners created a profile of the sitter’s character.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
Feeling lonely may affect how well older adults remember things, but it does not appear to make memory decline happen faster over time.
From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026
Feeling chilly early next week too with temperatures ranging from 6C in northern Scotland to 13C in south-east England.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Feeling unwell and still adjusting to the weekly grind of the ATP Tour, the Irvine native exited in the first round and quickly scratched it from his mind.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
Feeling self-conscious about the elaborate mother-of-pearl comb I’d planned to wear today, I’d left my hair unadorned entirely and now I worried that it made me seem even younger than I was.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
