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Improve Your Writing: A Guide To Emotions

Updated on January 2, 2018
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Verity is a physics with teaching BSc (Hons) graduate. In her spare time, she likes to cook, read and play video games.

Introduction

When writing about emotions it can be difficult to pick a word that accurately describes both how the character feels, and to what extent they feel their emotions. This guide contains some common emotions, or moods, with descriptive words sorted by strength of the feeling.

Source

Anger

Light
Moderate
Strong
Bugged
Aggravated
Affronted
Chagrined
Annoyed
Belligerent
Dismayed
Antagonistic
Bitter
Galled
Crabby
Burned up
Grim
Cranky
Enraged
Impatient
Exasperated
Fuming
Irked
Grouchy
Furious
Petulant
Hostile
Heated
Resentful
Ill-tempered
Incensed
Sullen
Indignant
Infuriated
Uptight
Irate
Intense
 
Irritated
Outraged
 
Offended
Provoked
 
Ratty
Seething
 
Resentful
Storming
 
Sore
Truculent
 
Spiteful
Vengeful
 
Testy
Vindictive
 
Ticked off
Wild

Caring

Light
Moderate
Stong
Appreciative
Admiring
Adoring
Attentive
Affectionate
Ardent
Considerate
Attached
Cherishing
Friendly
Fond
Compassionate
Interested in
Genuine
Crazy (for or about)
Kind
Kind
Devoted
Like
Loving
Doting
Respectful
Partial
Fervent
Thoughtful
Sympathetic
Idolising
Tolerant
Tender
Infatuated
Warm toward
Trusting
Passionate
Yielding
 
Wild
 
 
Worshipping
 
 
Zealous

Confusion

Light
Moderate
Strong
Ambiguous
Adrift
Baffled
Distracted
Ambivalent
Befuddled
Uncertain
Bewildered
Chaotic
Uncomfortable
Blurred
Confounded
Undecided
Disconcerted
Dizzy
Unsettled
Disordered
Flustered
Unsure
Disorganised
Oblivious
 
Disquieted
Rattled
 
Foggy
Reeling
 
Frustrated
Shocked
 
Misled
Shook
 
Mistaken
Speechless
 
Misunderstood
Startled
 
Mixed up
Stumped
 
Perplexed
Stunned
 
Puzzled
Taken-aback
 
Troubled
Thrown
 
 
Thunderstruck
 
 
Trapped

Depression

Light
Moderate
Strong
Blah
Awful
Alienated
Disappointed
Blue
Barren
Down
Crestfallen
Beaten
Funk
Demoralised
Bleak
Glum
Devalued
Dejected
Low
Discouraged
Depressed
Moody
Dispirited
Desolate
Morose
Distressed
Despair
Somber
Downcast
Despondent
Subdued
Downhearted
Dismay
Uncomfortable
Fed up
Distraught
Unhappy
Lost
Empty
 
Lonely
Gloomy
 
Melancholy
Grieved
 
Miserable
Grim
 
Regretful
Hopeless
 
Rotten
Woeful
 
Sorrowful
Worried
 
Tearful
 
 
Upset
 
 
Weepy
 

Fear

Light
Moderate
Strong
Careful
Afraid
Anxious
Cautious
Apprehensive
Alarmed
Disquieted
Awkward
Appalled
Shy
Defensive
Desperate
Tense
Fearful
Distressed
Timid
Fidgety
Frightened
Uneasy
Fretful
Horrified
Unsure
Jumpy
Intimidated
Worried
Nervous
Panicky
 
Scared
Paralysed
 
Shakey
Petrified
 
Skittish
Shocked
 
Spineless
Terrified
 
Taut
Terrorised
 
Threatened
Wrecked
 
Troubled
 
 
Wired
 

Happiness

Light
Moderate
Strong
Contented
Aglow
Delighted
Cool
Buoyant
Ebullient
Fine
Cheerful
Ecstatic
Genial
Elevated
Elated
Glad
Gleeful
Energetic
Gratified
Happy
Enthusiastic
Keen
In high spirits
Euphoric
Pleasant
Jovial
Excited
Pleased
Light-hearted
Exhilarated
Satisfied
Lively
Overjoyed
Serene
Merry
Radiant
Sunny
Sparkling
Thrilled
 
Up
Vibrant
 
 
Zippy

Hurt

Light
Moderate
Strong
Languished
Annoyed
Abused
Let Down
Belittled
Aching
Minimised
Cheapened
Anguished
Neglected
Criticized
Crushed
Put down
Damaged
Degraded
Rueful
Depreciated
Destroyed
Tender
Devalued
Devestated
Touched
Discredited
Discarded
Unhappy
Distressed
Disgraced
 
Impaired
Forsaken
 
Injured
Humiliated
 
Maligned
Mocked
 
Marred
Punished
 
Miffed
Rejected
 
Mistreated
Ridiculed
 
Resentful
Ruined
 
Troubled
Scorned
 
Used
Stabbed
 
Wounded
Tortured

Inadequacy

Light
Moderate
Strong
Dry
Ailing
Blemished
Incomplete
Clueless
Blotched
Meager
Defeated
Broken
Puny
Deficient
Crippled
Tenuous
Disingenuous
Damaged
Uncertain
Dopey
False
Unconvincing
Feeble
Fake
Unsure
Helpless
Feeble
Weak
Impaired
Flawed
Wishful
Imperfect
Helpless
 
Incapable
Impotent
 
Incompetent
Inferior
 
Incomplete
Invalid
 
Ineffective
Powerless
 
Inept
Useless
 
Insignificant
Washed Up
 
Lacking
Worthless
 
Lame
 
 
Overwhelmed
 
 
Small
 
 
Substandard
 
 
Unimportant
 

Loneliness

Light
Moderate
Strong
Blue
Alienated
Abandoned
Detatched
Alone
Cut Off
Discouraged
Apart
Deserted
Distant
Cheerless
Destroyed
Insulated
Companionless
Empty
Melancholy
Dejected
Forsaken
Remote
Despondent
Isolated
Seperate
Estranged
Marooned
Withdrawn
Excluded
Neglected
 
Left Out
Ostracised
 
Left Over
Outcast
 
Lonely
Quarantined
 
Opressed
Rejected
 
Uncherished
Shunned

Remorse

Light
Moderate
Strong
Bashful
Apologetic
Abashed
Blushing
Ashamed
Debased
Chagrined
Contrite
Degraded
Chastened
Culpable
Delinquent
Crestfallen
Demeaned
Depraved
Embarrassed
Downhearted
Disgraced
Hesitant
Flustered
Evil
Humble
Guilty
Exposed
Meek
Penetant
Humiliated
Regretful
Regretful
Judged
Reluctant
Remorseful
Mortified
Sheepish
Repentant
Sinful
 
Shameful
Wicked
 
Sorrowful
Wrong
Source

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for reading this guide on emotions, if you have any suggestions for other words to add to this guide please do comment below and let me know. Thank you to Tumblr user 'rph-of-generosity' for the source. I hope that this guide has been useful.

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