Improve Your Writing: A Guide To Emotions
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.
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
|
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.
