A comprehensive list of emotions! When speaking or writing, one of the best ways to expand your vocabulary and to avoid using the same words repeatedly is to use synonyms. The following lesson will provide list of similar words about emotions & feelings with useful examples and ESL infographic.
Emotions are biological states associated with the nervous system brought on by neurophysiological changes variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioural responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure.
List of Emotions
Basic Emotions
Basic emotions are a set of primary emotions that are considered to be universal and innate, meaning that they are present in all humans regardless of culture or upbringing.
Happiness: a positive emotional state characterized by feelings of pleasure, contentment, and satisfaction.
- Joy
- Delight
- Euphoria
- Gladness
- Contentment
- Pleasure
- Satisfaction
Sadness: a negative emotional state characterized by feelings of loss, grief, and disappointment.
- Grief
- Sorrow
- Melancholy
- Despair
- Loneliness
- Heartache
- Unhappiness
Anger: a negative emotional state characterized by feelings of frustration, irritation, and hostility.
- Rage
- Fury
- Indignation
- Resentment
- Irritation
- Annoyance
- Hostility
Fear: a negative emotional state characterized by feelings of anxiety, apprehension, and panic.
- Anxiety
- Dread
- Terror
- Panic
- Apprehension
- Phobia
- Nervousness
Disgust: a negative emotional state characterized by feelings of revulsion, nausea, and aversion.
- Revulsion
- Loathing
- Aversion
- Repulsion
- Abhorrence
- Distaste
- Nausea
Surprise: a brief emotional state characterized by feelings of astonishment or amazement.
- Amazement
- Astonishment
- Shock
- Bewilderment
- Disbelief
- Startle
- Wonder
Complex Emotions
Emotion | Examples |
---|---|
Envy | I couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy when I saw my neighbor’s lush green lawn. |
Jealousy | He couldn’t control his jealousy when he saw her talking to other guys. |
Guilt | She was overwhelmed with guilt after lying to her parents. |
Shame | He felt a deep sense of shame after failing the exam. |
Embarrassment | She blushed with embarrassment when she realized she had food on her face. |
Humiliation | He suffered public humiliation after his mistake was broadcast on TV. |
Regret | He felt a deep sense of regret after missing his daughter’s school play. |
Remorse | He felt deep remorse for his actions and apologized to his friend. |
Resentment | She held deep resentment towards her ex-boyfriend for how he treated her. |
Bitterness | The bitterness in her voice was apparent as she spoke about her ex-husband. |
Disappointment | She couldn’t hide her disappointment when she didn’t get the promotion. |
Frustration | He felt frustration building up when he couldn’t figure out the answer. |
Irritation | The sound of the dripping faucet was a constant irritation to her. |
Annoyance | The constant barking of the neighbor’s dog was an annoyance to him. |
Outrage | She was filled with outrage after hearing about the injustice. |
Indignation | He felt indignation towards the company for mistreating its employees. |
Betrayal | The discovery of his wife’s affair felt like a deep betrayal to him. |
Contempt | He looked at his opponent with contempt after their argument. |
Disgust | She felt disgust towards the food she was served at the restaurant. |
Disapproval | He showed his disapproval of her behavior by shaking his head. |
Disillusionment | After the election, there was a sense of disillusionment among the voters. |
Insecurity | He struggled with feelings of insecurity about his abilities. |
Inferiority | Her constant comparison with others led to a feeling of inferiority. |
Loneliness | The old man’s eyes filled with tears as he struggled with the loneliness of living alone. |
Abandonment | She felt abandoned by her partner when he left her alone in a difficult situation. |
Rejection | The rejection from the job interview was disheartening. |
Neglect | The neglect of the building’s maintenance led to several safety issues. |
Helplessness | The dog’s whimpering showed its helplessness as it struggled to get out of the trap. |
Powerlessness | The patient felt a sense of powerlessness over their illness. |
Hopelessness | He felt a sense of hopelessness after his business failed. |
Anxiety | Jane’s anxiety prevented her from attending the party. |
Fear | He felt fear when he saw the snake slithering towards him. |
Panic | The panic in the crowd increased when they heard the sound of gunshots. |
Terror | He was filled with terror when he saw the car heading straight towards him. |
Despair | She felt despair after losing her job and her home. |
Sadness | He felt sadness after the death of his beloved pet. |
Grief | She was filled with grief after the loss of her grandmother. |
Melancholy | He felt a sense of melancholy listening to the sad music. |
Nostalgia | She felt nostalgia looking at the old photos of her childhood. |
Longing | He had a longing for his homeland and missed his family. |
Homesickness | She suffered from homesickness when she moved to a new city. |
Pity | I felt pity for the stray dog. |
Sympathy | She expressed her sympathy for my loss. |
Empathy | The counselor showed empathy towards the client’s struggles. |
Compassion | He showed great compassion towards the refugees. |
Kindness | His act of kindness towards the homeless man was noble. |
Gratitude | I expressed my gratitude to her for helping me out. |
Awe | I stood in awe of the magnificent view from the top. |
Admiration | I have always had deep admiration for her talent. |
Reverence | The ancient temple was held in great reverence. |
Pride | She beamed with pride as she accepted the award. |
Contentment | He found contentment in the simple things in life. |
Fulfillment | The job gave her a sense of fulfillment. |
Self-acceptance | He struggled with self-acceptance for a long time. |
Self-esteem | Her self-esteem suffered after the breakup. |
Confidence | She had the confidence to speak up in front of the crowd. |
Ambition | His ambition was to become a successful entrepreneur. |
Motivation | The coach provided motivation to the team. |
Curiosity | She couldn’t resist her curiosity about the new product. |
Wonder | The beauty of the night sky filled me with wonder. |
Positive Emotions
Emotion | Examples |
---|---|
Love | John and Sarah’s love for each other grew stronger every day. |
Joy | She felt pure joy when she saw her newborn baby. |
Happiness | The sunny day filled her with happiness. |
Excitement | The anticipation of the vacation filled her with excitement. |
Gratitude | I feel gratitude towards my parents for their support. |
Contentment | He found contentment in his work. |
Serenity | The sound of waves brought her serenity. |
Hope | She held onto hope for a better tomorrow. |
Amusement | The comedian’s jokes filled the room with amusement. |
Delight | The sight of a rainbow filled her with delight. |
Euphoria | She felt a sense of euphoria after completing the marathon. |
Bliss | The newlyweds were in a state of bliss on their honeymoon. |
Enthusiasm | The team’s enthusiasm for the project was contagious. |
Inspiration | The artist found inspiration in nature. |
Pride | He felt pride in his daughter’s academic achievement. |
Confidence | She exuded confidence during the job interview. |
Humility | He showed humility when he apologized for his mistake. |
Empathy | I could feel empathy towards her struggles. |
Sympathy | She expressed sympathy towards the grieving family. |
Compassion | The nurse showed great compassion towards her patients. |
Trust | The couple had built a strong trust between them. |
Faith | Her faith helped her get through the tough times. |
Courage | He showed courage in the face of danger. |
Curiosity | Her curiosity about the world led her to travel. |
Wonder | The beauty of the natural world filled him with wonder. |
Awe | The grandeur of the cathedral left her in awe. |
Fascination | The child’s fascination with the stars led them to study astronomy. |
Creativity | The artist’s creativity shone through in her paintings. |
Playfulness | The children’s playfulness was contagious. |
Appreciation | She expressed her appreciation for the thoughtful gift. |
Thankfulness | He felt thankfulness for the support of his friends. |
Optimism | She maintained her optimism in the face of adversity. |
Peacefulness | The yoga class brought her a sense of peacefulness. |
Relaxation | The soothing music brought relaxation to her mind. |
Anticipation | The anticipation of the upcoming vacation was exciting. |
Fulfillment | The completion of the project gave him a sense of fulfillment. |
Satisfaction | The delicious meal left her with a sense of satisfaction. |
Self-love | She learned to practice self-love and acceptance. |
Self-esteem | His self-esteem improved after the success of his project. |
Self-confidence | She gained self-confidence after overcoming her fear. |
Negative Emotions
Emotion | Examples |
---|---|
Anger | I am so angry at what he said. |
Annoyance | The constant buzzing of the fly became an annoyance to Tom. |
Anxiety | The upcoming job interview was causing him great anxiety. |
Bitterness | He couldn’t hide his bitterness after losing the competition. |
Contempt | She looked at me with contempt and walked away. |
Defeatism | The team’s defeatism attitude led to their loss in the game. |
Depression | I’ve been struggling with depression for months. |
Despair | I felt a deep sense of despair after the breakup. |
Disappointment | The movie was a big disappointment. |
Discontentment | He couldn’t hide his discontentment with his current job. |
Disgust | The sight of the dead animal made me feel disgust. |
Distrust | His history of lying created distrust among his friends. |
Embarrassment | I turned red with embarrassment when I tripped and fell. |
Envy | She couldn’t help but feel envy towards her more successful friend. |
Frustration | I was filled with frustration after trying to fix the broken machine. |
Guilt | She felt overwhelming guilt after breaking her mother’s favorite vase. |
Hostility | His hostility towards me was palpable. |
Humiliation | I felt a deep sense of humiliation after getting fired. |
Impatience | She couldn’t hide her impatience during the long wait. |
Insecurity | He struggled with feelings of insecurity his whole life. |
Insult | His insult cut deep and I couldn’t help but feel hurt. |
Jealousy | His jealousy towards his girlfriend’s male friends was a problem. |
Loneliness | She felt a deep sense of loneliness after moving to a new city. |
Melancholy | The melancholy music made her feel nostalgic. |
Misery | He couldn’t help but feel misery after losing his job. |
Nervousness | The nervousness in her voice was apparent during the public speaking event. |
Overwhelm | The sudden influx of customers at the store caused an overwhelm of the staff. |
Pain | The pain in her back was unbearable. |
Regret | He felt a deep sense of regret after missing his best friend’s wedding. |
Rejection | His constant rejection was getting to him. |
Resentment | She couldn’t help but feel resentment towards her ex. |
Sadness | She felt a deep sense of sadness after her dog passed away. |
Shame | I felt shame for my actions and couldn’t face my friends. |
Skepticism | He had a healthy dose of skepticism towards the new product. |
Stress | The stress of the job was starting to take a toll on him. |
Suspicion | I had a suspicion that he was lying. |
Tension | There was a tense atmosphere in the room after the argument. |
Unhappiness | He couldn’t hide his unhappiness with his current situation. |
Worry | She couldn’t help but worry about her children’s safety. |
Wrath | His wrath was unleashed after the betrayal. |
How to Talk About Emotions
Enjoyment
- Pleasure
- Joy
- Happiness
- Amusement
- Pride
- Awe
- Excitement
- Ecstasy
- Love
- Relief
- Contentment
- Peace
- Satisfaction
Anger
- Annoyed
- Raging
- Livid
- Fed up
- Irritated
- Mad
- Critical
- Agitated
- Resentful
- Disgusted
- Outraged
- Furious
- Bitter
Sadness
- Upset
- Sorrowful
- Crushed
- Dejected
- Heavy
- Depressed
- Disgusted
- Hateful
- Mournful
- Weepy
- Desperate
- Frustrated
Confusion
- Doubtful
- Hesitant
- Uncertain
- Shy
- Unsure
- Pessimistic
- Indecisive
- Perplexed
- Embarrassed
- Lost
- Tense
Happy
- Glad
- Content
- Joyful
- Grateful
- Pleased
- Optimistic
- Amused
- Delighted
- Charmed
- Loving
- Marvelous
Strong
- Powerful
- Confident
- Empowered
- Unique
- Sure
- Certain
- Dynamic
- Bold
- Determined
- Hardy
- Tenacious
- Secure
- Ambitious
Energized
- Healthy
- Motivated
- Refreshed
- Strengthened
- Inspired
- Determined
- Creative
- Renewed
- Vibrant
- Focused
- Invigorated
Emotions List with Examples
Anger
Annoyed
- Tom really annoyed me in the meeting this morning.
Raging
- I was in a raging temper.
Livid
- He was livid when he found out.
Fed up
- He had become fed up with city life.
Irritated
- She was deeply irritated at being thwarted.
Mad
- He was mad with me for losing his watch.
Critical
- The inquiry was critical of her work.
Agitated
- He sounded very agitated on the phone.
Resentful
- He was very resentful of their success.
Disgusted
- I am completely disgusted with her.
Outraged
- He is truly outraged about what’s happened to him.
Sad
Upset
- My baby gets upset when I leave the room.
Sorrowful
- She looked sorrowful and dejected.
Crushed
- They crushed down stone for making cement.
Dejected
- The old man seemed dejected and spiritless.
Depressed
- She felt lonely and depressed .
Disgusted
- I am completely disgusted with her.
Hateful
- She could hardly spit out the hateful words.
Mournful
- She sighed and looked mournful.
Weepy
- Her eyes were red and weepy.
Desperate
- I had no money left and was desperate.
Frustrated
- He was frustrated by his poverty.
Confusion
Doubtful
- He was doubtful about accepting extra work.
Hesitant
- Tom gave me a hesitant little smile.
Uncertain
- He was uncertain about his brother’s intentions.
Shy
- She’s very shy with adults.
Unsure
- I was unsure of the reaction I would get.
Pessimistic
- He remains deeply pessimistic about the peace process.
Indecisive
- He’s too indecisive to make a good leader.
Perplexed
- I am perplexed to know what to do.
Embarrassed
- She felt embarrassed under his steady gaze.
Tense
- She sounded tense and angry.
Happy
Glad
- I’m glad to meet you.
Content
- She is content with very little.
Joyful
- A wedding is a joyful celebration of love.
Grateful
- I’m so grateful for all that you’ve done.
Pleased
- I am pleased that you have a new job.
Optimistic
- He is optimistic about the future.
Amused
- His jokes amused the whole table.
Delighted
- I was delighted to be invited to her party.
Charmed
- I was charmed with her beauty.
Loving
- She chose the present with loving care.
Marvelous
- She whispers in my ear and hints at marvelous discoveries.
Strong
Powerful
- His speech was a powerful spur to action.
Confident
- He was confident of success.
Empowered
- Congress is empowered to levy taxes.
Unique
- He draws a unique full sound from the instrument.
Sure
- I’m sure he’ll come with a bit of persuading.
Certain
- She arrogated to herself a certain importance.
Dynamic
- He seemed a dynamic and energetic leader.
Determined
- He was determined to retrieve his honor.
Hardy
- He is a hardy person.
Tenacious
- We should be tenacious of our rights.
Ambitious
- She is an ambitious career woman.
Energized
Healthy
- He looked handsome and healthy.
Motivated
- He is motivated by good intentions.
Refreshed
- She felt refreshed after her sleep.
Strengthened
- Our friendship has steadily strengthened over the years.
Inspired
- I was inspired to work harder than ever before.
Determined
- He was determined to retrieve his honor.
Creative
- She’s very creative and always coming up with new ideas.
Renewed
- We wish you a renewed hope in life.
Vibrant
- She was vibrant with health and enthusiasm.
Focused
- He focused his mind on his lessons.
Invigorated
- I feel invigorated by all this fresh air!
Complete List of Emotions
- Acceptance
- Admiration
- Adoration
- Affection
- Afraid
- Aggressive
- Agitation
- Agony
- Alarm
- Alarmed
- Alienation
- Amazement
- Ambivalence
- Amusement
- Anger
- Anguish
- Annoyed
- Anticipating
- Anxious
- Apathy
- Apprehension
- Arrogant
- Assertive
- Astonished
- Attentiveness
- Attraction
- Aversion
- Awe
- Baffled
- Bewildered
- Bitter
- Bitter Sweetness
- Bliss
- Bored
- Brazen
- Brooding
- Calm
- Carefree
- Careless
- Caring
- Charity
- Cheeky
- Cheerfulness
- Claustrophobic
- Coercive
- Comfortable
- Confident
- Confusion
- Contempt
- Content
- Contentment
- Courage
- Cowardly
- Cruelty
- Curiosity
- Cynicism
- Dazed
- Dejection
- Delighted
- Demoralized
- Depressed
- Desire
- Despair
- Determined
- Disappointment
- Disbelief
- Discombobulated
- Discomfort
- Discontentment
- Disgruntled
- Disgust
- Disheartened
- Dislike
- Dismay
- Disoriented
- Dispirited
- Displeasure
- Distraction
- Distress
- Disturbed
- Dominant
- Doubt
- Dread
- Driven
- Dumbstruck
- Eagerness
- Ecstasy
- Elation
- Embarrassment
- Empathy
- Enchanted
- Enjoyment
- Enlightened
- Ennui
- Enthusiasm
- Envy
- Epiphany
- Euphoria
- Exasperated
- Excitement
- Expectancy
- Fascination
- Fear
- Flakey
- Focused
- Fondness
- Friendliness
- Fright
- Frustrated
- Fury
- Glee
- Gloomy
- Glumness
- Gratitude
- Greed
- Grief
- Grouchiness
- Grumpiness
- Guilt
- Happiness
- Hate
- Hatred
- Helpless
- Homesickness
- Hope
- Hopeless
- Horrified
- Hospitable
- Humiliation
- Humility
- Hurt
- Hysteria
- Idleness
- Impatient
- Indifference
- Indignant
- Infatuation
- Infuriated
- Insecurity
- Insightful
- Insulted
- Interest
- Intrigued
- Irritated
- Isolated
- Jealousy
- Joviality
- Joy
- Jubilation
- Kind
- Lazy
- Liking
- Loathing
- Lonely
- Longing
- Loopy
- Love
- Lust
- Mad
- Melancholy
- Miserable
- Miserliness
- Mixed Up
- Modesty
- Moody
- Mortified
- Mystified
- Nasty
- Nauseated
- Negative
- Neglect
- Nervous
- Nostalgic
- Numb
- Obstinate
- Offended
- Optimistic
- Outrage
- Overwhelmed
- Panicked
- Paranoid
- Passion
- Patience
- Peace
- Pensiveness
- Perplexed
- Persevering
- Pessimism
- Pity
- Pleased
- Pleasure
- Politeness
- Positive
- Possessive
- Powerless
- Pride
- Puzzled
- Rage
- Rash
- Rattled
- Regret
- Rejected
- Relaxed
- Relief
- Relieved
- Reluctant
- Remorse
- Resentment
- Resignation
- Restlessness
- Revulsion
- Ruthless
- Sadness
- Satisfaction
- Scared
- Schadenfreude
- Scorn
- Self-caring
- Self-compassionate
- Self-confident
- Self-conscious
- Self-critical
- Self-loathing
- Self-motivated
- Self-pity
- Self-respecting
- Self-understanding
- Sentimentality
- Serenity
- Shame
- Shameless
- Shocked
- Smug
- Spite
- Stressed
- Strong
- Stubborn
- Stuck
- Submissive
- Suffering
- Sullenness
- Surprise
- Suspense
- Suspicious
- Sympathy
- Tenderness
- Tension
- Terror
- Thankfulness
- Thrilled
- Tired
- Tolerance
- Triumphant
- Troubled
- Trust
- Uncertainty
- Undermined
- Uneasiness
- Unhappy
- Unnerved
- Unsettled
- Unsure
- Upset
- Vengeful
- Vicious
- Vulnerable
- Weak
- Woe
- Worried
- Worthy
- Wrath
- Love
- Sorrow
- Torment
- Vigilance
To summarize, emotions are a multifaceted and heterogeneous dimension of the human condition. This list of emotions offers a glimpse into the vast spectrum of sensations that we may encounter. Effectively comprehending and regulating our emotions is paramount for our psychological and physical health, as well as our interpersonal connections. It is crucial to acknowledge and communicate our emotions in constructive ways, and to seek assistance when required. By cultivating emotional intelligence, we can navigate the ebbs and flows of life with greater adaptability and fortitude.
Related Links
- List of Feelings
- Common Feeling Adjectives
- Descriptive Words
- Love Quotes
- Idioms about Heart
- Love Idioms
- Linking Verbs: Definition, Form, Usage and Examples - August 30, 2024
- Compound Adjectives: Definition, Types and Examples - August 30, 2024
- Interrogative Adjectives: Definition, Usage, and Examples - August 29, 2024
jo taylor
Thursday 27th of October 2022
hello , can a get a printable list of your emotions chart?
Jane
Sunday 18th of September 2022
Love this, at 57 its such a contribution
Makenzie R Palacios
Friday 11th of February 2022
this is helpful becuase these are what i going throug these things
Lee
Thursday 27th of January 2022
The real lee us this a he will come back here on febarry the 30
Lee
Thursday 27th of January 2022
Hi i am the real lee