sentiment

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/ˈsentɪmənt/
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Feeling-inflected opinion, the expression of such feeling in words, and tender emotion that can warm art or tip into sentimentality.

Examples

  • Critics found the ending heavy with sentiment.
  • I agree with the sentiment of the editorial.
  • The toast ended with a generous sentiment about friendship.
  • The survey measured customer sentiment toward the new app.
  • Public sentiment turned against the proposal.

Similar words

nostalgia
view
statement
mood
view
thought
pathos
remark
opinion
outlook

Meanings

Feeling-colored opinion

noun
opinion
neutral
A feeling, attitude, or opinion shaped by emotion, whether held by one person or shared by a group.

Usage

Use sentiment for an opinion with emotional force, especially public, political, market, or customer feeling.

Examples

  • Public sentiment turned against the proposal.
  • Investor sentiment improved after the earnings report.
  • The survey measured customer sentiment toward the new app.
  • The model classified the review's sentiment as negative.
  • Anti-war sentiment spread quickly through the city.

Common mistakes

The noun is treated as a verb, or a measured mood is mistaken for a proven fact.
IncorrectCorrect
Many voters sentiment against the plan. There is strong voter sentiment against the plan.
The data sentimented negative. The data showed negative sentiment.
His sentiment about the policy is a fact. His sentiment about the policy is an opinion.
Market sentiment proves the stock will rise. Market sentiment suggests investors expect the stock to rise.

Similar words

Expressed thought or feeling

noun
communication
neutral
A thought or feeling put into words, especially one that others can agree with, quote, or echo.

Usage

Use sentiment for the idea or feeling behind a statement, toast, card, editorial, or speech.

Examples

  • I agree with the sentiment of the editorial.
  • The card carried a simple sentiment of thanks.
  • Several speakers echoed the same sentiment.
  • Her closing sentiment stayed with the audience.
  • The toast ended with a generous sentiment about friendship.

Common mistakes

The word is attached to the wrong preposition, or the clause after it is left ungrammatical.
IncorrectCorrect
He echoed the sentiment about we should wait. He echoed the sentiment that we should wait.
The card printed a sentiment to thanks. The card printed a sentiment of thanks.
I agree the sentiment of the editorial. I agree with the sentiment of the editorial.
The speech sentiment was clear. The sentiment of the speech was clear.

Similar words

Tender or nostalgic emotion

noun
emotion
neutral
Tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling, sometimes valued as warmth and sometimes criticized as excessive emotion.

Usage

Use sentiment when feeling softens judgment, gives art emotional warmth, or slides toward sentimentality.

Examples

  • The movie earns its tears without cloying sentiment.
  • He kept the broken watch out of sentiment.
  • There is no room for sentiment in the negotiation.
  • The poem balances irony with genuine sentiment.
  • Critics found the ending heavy with sentiment.

Common mistakes

The adjective sentimental is used where the noun sentiment is needed, or the preposition is wrong.
IncorrectCorrect
The film has too much sentimental. The film has too much sentiment.
His decision was based in sentiment. His decision was based on sentiment.
She kept the watch for sentiment. She kept the watch out of sentiment.
There is no room for sentimental in this deal. There is no room for sentiment in this deal.

Similar words

Usage

Use sentiment for feeling-shaped opinion, for a thought expressed in words, or for tender emotion, and let the surrounding context show which sense is meant.

Common mistakes

Sentiment is sometimes made into a verb, confused with sentimental, or used as if public or market mood were a verified fact.

Etymology

From Old French sentement and Medieval Latin sentimentum, from Latin sentire, meaning "to feel".

FAQ

What does sentiment mean?

Sentiment means a feeling-shaped opinion, an expressed thought or feeling, or tender emotion.

Is sentiment the same as opinion?

Not exactly. Opinion can be purely reasoned, while sentiment usually carries emotional color.

What is public sentiment?

Public sentiment is the shared mood or attitude of a group toward an issue, person, or event.

What is market sentiment?

Market sentiment is the general mood of investors, such as bullish confidence or bearish caution.

What does sentiment mean in sentiment analysis?

In sentiment analysis, sentiment is the positive, negative, or neutral attitude expressed in text.

What is the difference between sentiment and sentimentality?

Sentiment can be sincere feeling, while sentimentality suggests emotion that is excessive, mawkish, or overdone.

Can sentiment be plural?

Yes. Sentiments often means several views or feelings, as in political sentiments or my sentiments exactly.

Where does sentiment come from?

Sentiment comes through French and Medieval Latin from Latin sentire, meaning to feel.

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