Word for feeling what others feel

Empathy — the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Empathy is pretty close, but I get the impression that you’re looking for something more literal.

Mirroring — is a psychological term to describe the behaviour in which one person copies another person usually while in social interaction with them. It may include miming gestures, movements, body language, muscle tensions, expressions, tones, eye movements, breathing, tempo, accent, attitude, choice of words or metaphors, and other aspects of communication. It is often observed among couples or close friends.

Again I think that’s pretty close, but not quite perfect.

Sympathy — understanding between people; common feeling.

I think Sympathy is the best answer I’ll be able to come up with. As argument I present Couvade Syndrome or «sympathetic pregnancy». It is the «proposed condition in which a partner experiences some of the same symptoms and behavior of an expectant mother.[1] These most often include minor weight gain, altered hormone levels, morning nausea, and disturbed sleep patterns. In more extreme cases, symptoms can include labor pains, postpartum depression, and nosebleeds.[2] The labor pain symptom is commonly known as sympathy pain.»

Feeling words, also known as emotion words or words of emotion, are words that describe the various emotions that a person can experience. Emotions are complex psychological and physiological responses to stimuli that can vary in intensity and duration. They can be positive (such as happiness or love) or negative (such as anger or sadness).

What Are Feeling Words?

Feelings are emotional states that can be positive or negative and that can vary in intensity. They are a natural and normal part of the human experience and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including life experiences, relationships, and environment.

There are many different words that can be used to describe feelings, and the specific words that are used can vary depending on the language and culture. Some common feeling words include happy, sad, angry, frustrated, anxious, surprised, excited, nervous, and disappointed.

It’s important to be able to recognize and understand our own feelings, as well as the feelings of others. Being able to identify and express our feelings can help us to communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships. It can also help us to manage and cope with difficult emotions in a healthy way.

There are also many different techniques that can be used to help manage and cope with feelings, such as mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and talking to someone about your feelings. It’s important to find what works best for you and to seek support if you are struggling to cope with your feelings.

Common Feeling Words with Meanings

Here is a list of some common feeling words and their meanings:

• Happy: feeling joy, delight, or contentment
• Sad: feeling unhappy, mournful, or down
• Angry: feeling irritable or resentful
• Frustrated: feeling annoyed or annoyed because one is unable to achieve something
• Anxious: feeling worried, fearful, or nervous
• Surprised: feeling startled or amazed by something unexpected
• Excited: feeling enthusiastic or eager about something
• Nervous: feeling anxious or tense, especially in anticipation of something
• Disappointed: feeling let down or unhappy because something did not happen or turn out as expected
• Content: feeling satisfied or at peace with what one has
• Relaxed: feeling calm or at ease
• Bored: feeling uninterested or unengaged
• Miserable: feeling extremely unhappy or uncomfortable
• Enthusiastic: feeling energetic and eager
• Confident: feeling self-assured or certain of oneself
• Loved: feeling affectionate or caring toward someone
• Depressed: feeling down or unhappy, often to the point of being unable to function normally
• Hopeful: feeling positive about the future and having a sense of expectation for something good to happen

List of Feeling Words

The following list contains common English adjectives that are often used to describe the positive and negative emotions of a person.

Positive Feelings

• Admirable
• Energetic
• Lucky (Synonyms for Lucky)
• Affable
• Enjoyable
• Brave
• Magnificent
• Affectionate
• Enthusiastic
• Marvelous
• Agreeable
• Euphoric
• Meritorious
• Amazing
• Excellent
• Gentle
• Merry
• Amiable
• Exceptional
• Mild-mannered
• Amused
• Excited
• Nice
• Amusing
• Animated
• Appreciative
• Fabulous
• Faithful
• Obedient
• Passionate
• Fantastic
• Peaceful
• Fortunate
• Pleasant
• Fun
• Brilliant
• Genuine
• Glad
• Calm
• Good
• Proud
• Charming
• Relaxed
• Cheerful
• Good-natured
• Reliable
• Cheery
• Relieved
• Respectable
• Witty
• Clever
• Grateful
• Comfortable
• Silly
• Great
• Happy
• Kind
• Confident
• Humorous
• Thankful
• Courteous
• Delighted
• Lively
• Jolly
• Trustworthy
• Delightful
• Trusty
• Joyful
• Truthful
• Eager
• Likable
• Wonderful

Negative Feelings

• Angry
• Bewildered
• Clumsy
• Defeated
• Embarrassed
• Fierce
• Grumpy
• Helpless
• Itchy
• Jealous
• Boastful
• Mysterious
• Nervous
• Arrogant
• Boring
• Obnoxious
• Panicky
• Repulsive
• Scary (Scared Synonym)
• Impatient
• Bossy
• Cruel
• Aggressive
• Narrow-minded
• Horrific
• Unhappy
• Greedy
• Fussy
• Moody
• Clingy
• Impulsive
• Sad
• Miserable
• Overcritical
• Rude

Examples of Feeling Words

• Beyton is an admirable character.
• We had a most enjoyable evening.
• She was very brave to learn to ski at fifty.
• The Capitol is a magnificent building.
• The teaching staff of this college is excellent.
• It is nice and warm today.
• If you are passionate about something, pursue it.
• Evening in the country is a very peaceful time.
• Her mother was a brilliant scientist.
• The hotel had a lovely relaxed atmosphere.
• Consumers are very nervous about the future.
• He is not only arrogant but also selfish.
• Her eyes were cruel and hard.
• It was evident that she was unhappy.
• That’s a rude thing to say.
• I’ll invite her if you’re agreeable to her coming.
• He was praised for his meritorious service as governor-general.
• Students are expected to be quiet and obedient in the classroom.
• He could not imagine a more peaceful scene.
• There was quite a respectable crowd at the match on Saturday.
• Can you engage that all his statements are trustworthy?
• She wondered who’d sent her the mysterious email.
• I’ve been so miserable since Patrick left me.
• He is the most obnoxious man I know.
• He is so boastful, so ready to justify himself.

Feeling Words | Infographic

List of Feeling Words in English

Last Updated on January 9, 2023

We feel more than we have the language to articulate and express, which is in itself profoundly frustrating. People work through emotions by being able to identify them and use them as signals. A lot of the time, we’re left in the dark. Enter the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, the brainchild of writer John Koenig, who is here to give you words for the feelings you may not have even known you were having. Here are 40 words to describe your emotions.

Onism

n. the awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience. Imagine standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die—and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.

Mal de Coucou

n. a phenomenon in which you have an active social life but very few close friends—people who you can trust, who you can be yourself with, who can help flush out the weird psychological toxins that tend to accumulate over time—which is a form of acute social malnutrition in which even if you devour an entire buffet of chitchat, you’ll still feel pangs of hunger.

Sonder

n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

Hanker Sore

adj. finding a person so attractive it actually kinda pisses you off.

Chrysalism

n. the amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm, listening to waves of rain pattering against the roof like an argument upstairs, whose muffled words are unintelligible but whose crackling release of built-up tension you understand perfectly.

Altschmerz

n. weariness with the same old issues that you’ve always had—the same boring flaws and anxieties you’ve been gnawing on for years, which leaves them soggy and tasteless and inert, with nothing interesting left to think about, nothing left to do but spit them out and wander off to the backyard, ready to dig up some fresher pain you might have buried long ago.

Occhiolism

n. the awareness of the smallness of your perspective, by which you couldn’t possibly draw any meaningful conclusions at all, about the world or the past or the complexities of culture, because although your life is an epic and unrepeatable anecdote, it still only has a sample size of one, and may end up being the control for a much wilder experiment happening in the next room.

Ambedo

n. a kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee—briefly soaking in the experience of being alive, an act that is done purely for its own sake.

Nodus Tollens

n. the realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore—that although you thought you were following the arc of the story, you keep finding yourself immersed in passages you don’t understand, that don’t even seem to belong in the same genre—which requires you to go back and reread the chapters you had originally skimmed to get to the good parts, only to learn that all along you were supposed to choose your own adventure.

Liberosis

n. the desire to care less about things—to loosen your grip on your life, to stop glancing behind you every few steps, afraid that someone will snatch it from you before you reach the end zone—rather to hold your life loosely and playfully, like a volleyball, keeping it in the air, with only quick fleeting interventions, bouncing freely in the hands of trusted friends, always in play.

Vemödalen

n. the frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist—the same sunset, the same waterfall, the same curve of a hip, the same closeup of an eye—which can turn a unique subject into something hollow and pulpy and cheap, like a mass-produced piece of furniture you happen to have assembled yourself.

Kairosclerosis

n. the moment you realize that you’re currently happy—consciously trying to savor the feeling—which prompts your intellect to identify it, pick it apart and put it in context, where it will slowly dissolve until it’s little more than an aftertaste.

Vellichor

n. the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time—filled with thousands of old books you’ll never have time to read, each of which is itself locked in its own era, bound and dated and papered over like an old room the author abandoned years ago, a hidden annex littered with thoughts left just as they were on the day they were captured.

Rückkehrunruhe

n. the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid just days ago—which makes you wish you could smoothly cross-dissolve back into everyday life, or just hold the shutter open indefinitely and let one scene become superimposed on the next, so all your days would run together and you’d never have to call cut.

Nighthawk

n. a recurring thought that only seems to strike you late at night—an overdue task, a nagging guilt, a looming and shapeless future—that circles high overhead during the day, that pecks at the back of your mind while you try to sleep, that you can successfully ignore for weeks, only to feel its presence hovering outside the window, waiting for you to finish your coffee, passing the time by quietly building a nest.

Dead Reckoning

n. to find yourself bothered by someone’s death more than you would have expected, as if you assumed they would always be part of the landscape, like a lighthouse you could pass by for years until the night it suddenly goes dark, leaving you with one less landmark to navigate by—still able to find your bearings, but feeling all that much more adrift.

Pâro

n. the feeling that no matter what you do is always somehow wrong—that any attempt to make your way comfortably through the world will only end up crossing some invisible taboo—as if there’s some obvious way forward that everybody else can see but you, each of them leaning back in their chair and calling out helpfully, colder, colder, colder.

Midsummer

n. a feast celebrated on the day of your 26th birthday, which marks the point at which your youth finally expires as a valid excuse—when you must begin harvesting your crops, even if they’ve barely taken root—and the point at which the days will begin to feel shorter as they pass, until even the pollen in the air reminds you of the coming snow.

Adronitis

n. frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone—spending the first few weeks chatting in their psychological entryway, with each subsequent conversation like entering a different anteroom, each a little closer to the center of the house—wishing instead that you could start there and work your way out, exchanging your deepest secrets first, before easing into casualness, until you’ve built up enough mystery over the years to ask them where they’re from, and what they do for a living.

Rigor Samsa

n. a kind of psychological exoskeleton that can protect you from pain and contain your anxieties, but always ends up cracking under pressure or hollowed out by time—and will keep growing back again and again, until you develop a more sophisticated emotional structure, held up by a strong and flexible spine, built less like a fortress than a cluster of treehouses.

Silience

n. the kind of unnoticed excellence that carries on around you every day, unremarkably—the hidden talents of friends and coworkers, the fleeting solos of subway buskers, the slapdash eloquence of anonymous users, the unseen portfolios of aspiring artists—which would be renowned as masterpieces if only they’d been appraised by the cartel of popular taste, who assume that brilliance is a rare and precious quality, accidentally overlooking buried jewels that may not be flawless but are still somehow perfect.

Fitzcarraldo

n. an image that somehow becomes lodged deep in your brain—maybe washed there by a dream, or smuggled inside a book, or planted during a casual conversation—which then grows into a wild and impractical vision that keeps scrambling back and forth in your head like a dog stuck in a car that’s about to arrive home, just itching for a chance to leap headlong into reality.

Keyframe

n. a moment that seemed innocuous at the time but ended up marking a diversion into a strange new era of your life—set in motion not by a series of jolting epiphanies but by tiny imperceptible differences between one ordinary day and the next, until entire years of your memory can be compressed into a handful of indelible images—which prevents you from rewinding the past, but allows you to move forward without endless buffering.

Gnossienne

n. a moment of awareness that someone you’ve known for years still has a private and mysterious inner life, and somewhere in the hallways of their personality is a door locked from the inside, a stairway leading to a wing of the house that you’ve never fully explored—an unfinished attic that will remain maddeningly unknowable to you, because ultimately neither of you has a map, or a master key, or any way of knowing exactly where you stand.

Anecdoche

n. a conversation in which everyone is talking but nobody is listening, simply overlaying disconnected words like a game of Scrabble, with each player borrowing bits of other anecdotes as a way to increase their own score, until we all run out of things to say.

Catoptric Tristesse

n. the sadness that you’ll never really know what other people think of you, whether good, bad or if at all—that although we reflect on each other with the sharpness of a mirror, the true picture of how we’re coming off somehow reaches us softened and distorted, as if each mirror was preoccupied with twisting around, desperately trying to look itself in the eye.

Anemoia

n. nostalgia for a time you’ve never known. Imagine stepping through the frame into a sepia-tinted haze, where you could sit on the side of the road and watch the locals passing by. Who lived and died before any of us arrived here, who sleep in some of the same houses we do, who look up at the same moon, who breathe the same air, feel the same blood in their veins—and live in a completely different world.

Mimeomia

n. the frustration of knowing how easily you fit into a stereotype, even if you never intended to, even if it’s unfair, even if everyone else feels the same way—each of us trick-or-treating for money and respect and attention, wearing a safe and predictable costume because we’re tired of answering the question, “What are you supposed to be?”

Monachopsis

n. the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place, as maladapted to your surroundings as a seal on a beach—lumbering, clumsy, easily distracted, huddled in the company of other misfits, unable to recognize the ambient roar of your intended habitat, in which you’d be fluidly, brilliantly, effortlessly at home.

Semaphorism

n. a conversational hint that you have something personal to say on the subject but don’t go any further—an emphatic nod, a half-told anecdote, an enigmatic ‘I know the feeling’—which you place into conversations like those little flags that warn diggers of something buried underground: maybe a cable that secretly powers your house, maybe a fiberoptic link to some foreign country.

Énouement

n. the bittersweetness of having arrived here in the future, where you can finally get the answers to how things turn out in the real world—who your baby sister would become, what your friends would end up doing, where your choices would lead you, exactly when you’d lose the people you took for granted—which is priceless intel that you instinctively want to share with anybody who hadn’t already made the journey, as if there was some part of you who had volunteered to stay behind, who was still stationed at a forgotten outpost somewhere in the past, still eagerly awaiting news from the front.

Daguerreologue

n. an imaginary interview with an old photo of yourself, an enigmatic figure who still lives in the grainy and color-warped house you grew up in, who may well spend a lot of their day wondering where you are and what you’re doing now, like an old grandma whose kids live far away and don’t call much anymore.

Fata Organa

n. a flash of real emotion glimpsed in someone sitting across the room, idly locked in the middle of some group conversation, their eyes glinting with vulnerability or quiet anticipation or cosmic boredom—as if you could see backstage through a gap in the curtains, watching stagehands holding their ropes at the ready, actors in costume mouthing their lines, fragments of bizarre sets waiting for some other production.

Avenoir

n. the desire that memory could flow backward. We take it for granted that life moves forward. But you move as a rower moves, facing backwards: you can see where you’ve been, but not where you’re going. And your boat is steered by a younger version of you. It’s hard not to wonder what life would be like facing the other way…

Kenopsia

n. the eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that’s usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet—a school hallway in the evening, an unlit office on a weekend, vacant fairgrounds—an emotional afterimage that makes it seem not just empty but hyper-empty, with a total population in the negative, who are so conspicuously absent they glow like neon signs.

The Tilt Shift

n. a phenomenon in which your lived experience seems oddly inconsequential once you put it down on paper, which turns an epic tragicomedy into a sequence of figures on a model train set, assembled in their tiny classrooms and workplaces, wandering along their own cautious and well-trodden paths—peaceable, generic and out of focus.

Jouska

n. a hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head—a crisp analysis, a cathartic dialogue, a devastating comeback—which serves as a kind of psychological batting cage where you can connect more deeply with people than in the small ball of everyday life, which is a frustratingly cautious game of change-up pitches, sacrifice bunts, and intentional walks.

Ecstatic Shock

n. the surge of energy upon catching a glance from someone you like—a thrill that starts in your stomach, arcs up through your lungs and flashes into a spontaneous smile—which scrambles your ungrounded circuits and tempts you to chase that feeling with a kite and a key.

Heartworm

n. a relationship or friendship that you can’t get out of your head, which you thought had faded long ago but is still somehow alive and unfinished, like an abandoned campsite whose smoldering embers still have the power to start a forest fire.

Xeno

n. the smallest measurable unit of human connection, typically exchanged between passing strangers—a flirtatious glance, a sympathetic nod, a shared laugh about some odd coincidence—moments that are fleeting and random but still contain powerful emotional nutrients that can alleviate the symptoms of feeling alone.

The normalization of the verb to describe the feeling is called the feeling. It can be used to describe touch sensations or perceptions.

To improve your English vocabulary, learn useful emotion words and pictures with example sentences. You may find yourself needing to express your feelings or describe the emotions of someone else. It is essential to understand English and be able talk about different emotions. These emotion names can also be helpful in situations when someone is trying to explain to you their feelings. By being able recognize what they are saying you will be able better to assist them.

With this article, we will be explaining what feelings are and the difference between feelings and emotions, if that’s not enough, we are also going to share with you various positive and negative feeling words and a detailed list of feelings and emotions in English!

There are more than seven billion people on Earth today, and yet they are all different. If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s our feelings. All of us feel, and all experience difficulty at one time or another in our lives. We don’t fully understand how feelings are expressed.

The feeling of empathy has been around for a long time. Thomas Brown was the one who discovered them. This was also the year the word was officially added into the dictionary with the meaning that we still use today. The meaning of feelings was different than before. There are two meanings to the word “feelings”: emotional and physical.

The first word to include the physical aspect of the word “feelings” was added to the dictionary. It’s both a verb and a physical thing. A physical feeling refers to what you physically feel. For example, you might feel warmth while lying under the summer sun, or under a blanket in the winter. A second example is when you are too close to a flame, or break a bone.

We will be focusing our attention on the emotional side of the word “feelings“. A feeling that you feel inside is called an emotional feeling. It could be happy, sad, angry, or disgusting.

It can be easier to describe something physical when it is physically felt. It can be difficult to describe emotional feelings. Because we all feel different and sometimes mistake one feeling for another, it can be difficult to describe them.

Even though it’s been more than two-hundred and fifty years since the discovery of feelings, we still don’t have enough information. We have made great progress in our knowledge expansion, but we are still far from being done. People often mistakenly believe that emotions and feelings are one thing. They may look similar, but they do not necessarily mean the same thing.

Thomas Brown discovered the concept of emotions thirty years ago. Years later during the 1970’s, psychologist Paul Eckman, concluded that humans had six different emotions: happiness, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise and anger. As studies progressed, however, it became clear that this number was much higher than initially believed. Debates about raising the number 6 to a shocking 27-year-old and claiming that the total amount of emotions is even greater than 27, are still ongoing.

We now know what emotions are and how they differ from feelings.

Emotions are the reason we use the term “emotional feelings”. Emotions are a physical reaction to our environment. This means that emotions can be aroused before feelings. It can be difficult to recognize emotions because they are physical. However, feelings are mental associations or reactions to emotions. Because they occur in the mind and not our bodies, it is much harder to identify a feeling.

Imagine that you are afraid of the dark, and that all your lights go out because of a storm. Your body will now represent fear. You’ll feel your eyes wide open and your heart rate slow. However, your inner feelings are more cautious, worried and nervous. These are the emotions associated with that emotion. Emotions are felt on the body, while feelings occur in the mind.

Here are some examples: List of Adjectives This will help you to narrow down the word that best describes your feelings and emotions.

• Happy
• Fear not
• It’s sad
• Hot
• You’re amused
• Bored
• Anxious
• Be confident
• Cold
• Suspicious
• Surprising
• Loving
• Curious
• Envious
• Jealous
• Miserable
• Are you confused?
• It’s stupid
• Anger
• Sick
• Ashamed
• Withdrawn
• Indifferent
• We are sorry
• Decided
• Crazy
• Bashful
• Depressed
• Frightened
• Are you interested?
• Shy
• We are hopeful
• Regrettable
• Scared
• Sturdy
• Thirsty
• Guilt
• Nervous
• You’re embarrassed
• Disgusted
• Proud
• Emotional
• Lonely
• Frustrated
• Hurt
• Hungry
• Tired
• Think about it
• Pained
• Optimistic
• Get Relief
• Puzzled
• Shocked
• Joyful
• tired
• Excited
• Skeptical
• Bad
• Be worried

HAPPINESS

Happiness refers to the relationship of mindset, mental, or emotional states. It includes positive emotions that range from contentment and intense joy. It is the feeling of being well.

ANGER

Anger, also known as rage is an intense emotion that is a strong and uncomfortably emotional response to perceived provocation. Anger can also be a feeling that you feel the need to fight or take immediate action.

CARING

Caring is a personal act that shows compassion or does social work. It is caring for people who are sick or need assistance in managing their lives.

DEPRESSION

Depression can be described as a mood disorder that causes a feeling of sadness or lack of interest.

INADEQUATENESS

Inadequacy is a feeling that is either a state or condition of insufficiency, and is also known as feeling inadequate.

FEAR

Fear can be described as a feeling of fear that is caused by a sensed threat or danger, physiological changes and final expressions like hiding from certain events, freezing, or freezing.

CONFUSION

Confusion refers to a state or feeling of confusion in the mind or thought due to specific issues.

HURT

Hurt can be described as a feeling of pain in any part of the body, or a harsh feeling in the heart.

LONELINESS

Loneliness refers to feeling alone and unable to enjoy life or share happy moments with others. Loneliness is living in darkness.

REMORSE

Remorse refers to a feeling of regret that is felt by someone who has experienced something in their past. It can be closely linked to guilt, shame, or feeling ashamed.

ENERGY

Energize means to bring passion and energy to a task.

CONFIDENCE

Confidence in your heart or mindset is a feeling that you are confident. It allows you to demonstrate abilities and qualities.

TIRED:

You should take some rest if you feel tired. A person who is so bored by something or someone else is called tired.

List of Feelings (from a – Z).

These words will help you express what you feel.

Amused by words:

• Absorbed
• Beguiled
• Busy
• Charmed
• Cheered-up
• Convulsed
• Be happy
• Diverted
• Engaged
• Get involved
• Glad
• Are you interested?
• Get Involved
• We are grateful
• Be preoccupied
• Regaled
• Wow

Happy Feelings Words

• Beaming
• Blessed
• It’s blissful
• Take care
• Cheerful
• Be confident
• Content
• Be happy
• Euphoric
• Exhilarated
• Glad
• Glowing
• Gratified
• Inline
• Joy
• We are grateful
• Powerful
• Radiant
• Secure
• Self-acceptance
• Strong
• You are Thrilled

Peaceful words:

• It is possible to be flexible
• Anxiety-free
• It’s blissful
• Calm
• Committed
• Composed
• Content
• Cordial
• Flexible
• Harmonious
• Isolated
• Patient
• Pleasant
• Productive
• Quiet
• Relaxed
• Restful
• Secure
• Serene
• Soothed
• Stable
• Tranquil
• Undisturbed
• Untroubled
• Unworried

Pleased Feelings Words

• Acceptable
• You’re amused
• Content
• Content
• Be happy
• Elated
• Engaged
• Get involved
• Glad
• Good
• Thankful
• Gratified
• Happy
• Beautiful
• Nice
• Overjoyed
• Pleasant
• Satisfied
• Self-approval
• Superior
• Thankful
• You are Thrilled
• You will be happy

These words can make you feel powerful.

• Athletic
• Buff
• Compelling
• Controlling
• Dominant
• Dynamic
• Hard
• Herculean
• High-powered
• Important
• Influential
• Intoxicating
• It’s irresistible
• Manly
• Mighty
• Persuasive
• Ripped
• Shredded
• Solid
• Spirituous
• Stiff
• Strong
• Sturdy
• Thunderous
• Tough
• Vigorous
• Built well

Romantic Words for Feelings

• Affectionate
• Loveable
• Beautiful
• Charming
• It’s a dreamy place
• Erotic
• Fond
• Generous
• Thankful
• Humble
• Idealistic
• Illicit
• Intimate
• Kind
• Loving
• Beautiful
• Lovesick
• Loving
• Lustful
• Passionate
• Romanticist
• Satisfied
• Tolerant

Angry Feelings Words

• Annoyed
• Bad temper
• Conceited
• Crabby
• Cross
• Disgusted
• Displeased
• Dissatisfied
• Enraged
• Exasperated
• Fuming
• Furious
• Hot-tempered
• Hot-headed
• Intolerant
• Are you feeling upset?
• Jealous
• Mad
• Outraged
• Provoked
• Raging
• Resentful
• Stingy
• Waspish
• Wrathful

Bored Feelings Words

• Bummer
• Disinterested
• Dull
• Fatigued
• Inattentive
• Flat
• Lifeless
• Monotonous
• Spiritless
• Stale
• Stodgy
• Stuffy
• It’s stupid
• Tame
• Tedious
• Tired
• Tiresome
• Tiring

Disgusted Feeling Words:

• Annoyed
• Appalled
• Be dismayed
• Displeased
• Dissatisfied
• You’re embarrassed
• Grossed out
• Horrified
• It’s a joke
• Nauseated
• Offense
• Outraged
• Repelled
• Repulsed
• Revolted
• Shocked
• Sickened
• Trashed
• Ugly
• Unwanted
• Use
• Violation

Unsecure Feelings Words

• Anxious
• Apprehensive
• It is not difficult
• Doubtful
• Fearful
• Hesitant
• Inhibited
• Introverted
• Passive
• Self-conscious
• Self-doubting
• Shy
• Timid
• Unassertive
• Uncertain
• Confident
• Uncertain
• Be worried

Sad words:

• It’s awful
• Blue
• Broken-hearted
• Depressed
• Doleful
• Down
• Downhearted
• Gloomy
• Glum
• Guilt
• Heartbroken
• Lonely
• Low-spirited
• Miserable
• Mournful
• Not enough
• Pitiful
• Regrettable
• Small
• Sorrowful
• We are sorry
• Unfortunate
• Unhappy

Fearful Feelings Words

• Fear not
• Agitated
• Alarm
• Are you confused?
• Fearful
• Frantic
• Frightened
• Horrified
• Hysterical
• Impatient
• Indecisive
• Be intimidated
• Jittery
• Jumpy
• Nervous
• Panicky
• Petrified
• Rigid
• Shaky
• Spooked
• Stressed
• Terrified
• Be worried

One of the most important reasons to learn a language is to be able to communicate with people. You need to be able to express your thoughts in a way that is clear and easily understood.

One other thing you should learn to express clearly is your feelings and emotions. You need to be able to understand how to describe your emotional state and to talk about your feelings in conversation.

In this post, we’re going to go through some of the most basic and common words for feelings and emotions. Learn how to identify these feelings in yourself and others in order to improve your ability to clearly express your thoughts.

1. Happiness

Happiness is a positive emotion. It is a pleasant feeling or emotional state that comes will when you are content or satisfied with your situation.

Happiness is commonly associated when getting what you want. If you received a present that you liked, for example, you feel happy. If someone
tells you did a good job, you will express happiness.

Non-verbal signals for happiness: A smile, relaxed posture, laughter

Other common words to describe the feeling of happiness:

• Joy

• Pleased 

• Contented 

• Satisfied

• Amused

• Proud

• Ecstatic

• Cheerful

• Delighted

• Merry

• Thrilled

• Gleeful

2. Sadness

Sadness is a negative emotion that is associated with dissatisfaction with an outcome. If you are disappointed with your situation or did not receive the desired outcome, you will feel sadness.

There are different degrees of sadness that usually vary according to how seriously a person is affected by something that happened. 

For example, you can say that you are sad if the shop didn’t have the ice cream flavor you liked. This sadness describes being disappointed but it is considered temporary as it is not something that will affect you for a long time.

A deeper sadness, however, occurs when you experience a bad situation that has long-lasting effects. For example, the death of a loved one will stay with you for a long time and can trigger feelings of sadness long after the event itself.

Non-verbal signs of sadness: Crying, frowning, hunched over posture, not meeting people’s eyes

Other words that can be used to describe feeling sad or are associated with sadness:

• Unhappy

• Sorrow

• Grief

• Disappointment

• Depressed

• Hopeless

• Despair

• Dismayed

• Hurt

• Miserable

• Melancholy

• Somber

3. Fear

Fear is another word to describe emotions and feelings that are negative but universal. Fear is a primal emotion that is commonly understood to trigger what is called the “fight or flight” response.

Basically, when you are faced with a threat, you feel fear and this triggers several bodily reactions that are meant to help you “survive” the threat.

For example, our ancestors would feel fear when faced with a predator, they would then need to make the decision to either run away from it or fight. 

Now, when you are faced with a scary or shocking situation, it still triggers a physical response that is meant to help you “survive”. Fear isn’t just felt when facing physical danger; however, you might feel it when facing an emotional threat as well.

For example, a physical threat that might make you feel fear is a barking dog or a speeding car. However, you might also feel fear if faced with the threat of losing something valuable to you. If you get a call that your grandma is in the hospital, you will feel fear. 

Non-verbal signs of fear: Wide eyes, stiff posture, jerking back, rapid breathing, increased heart rate

Another word that means that you are feeling a degree of fear:

• Scared

• Frightened

• Terrified

• Threatened

• Worry 

• Anxiety

• Dread

• Shocked

• Vulnerable

• Suspicious

• Alarm

• Apprehensive

• Horror

4. Disgust

Disgust is a negative emotion that you feel when you experience something that is unpleasant. It is usually triggered when you are faced with something that is unpleasant to your senses of sight, smell, or taste.

For example, if you see something that is unpleasant, such as vomit or a dead bug, you will be disgusted. If you smell garbage, you will feel disgusted. If you taste spoiled milk, you will feel disgusted.

Similar to fear, disgust evolved from a “survival instinct” as disgust is usually accompanied by physical reactions that are meant to protect us from what disgusts us. This was especially important as it kept us from eating or touching things that might be harmful to us.

For example, spoiled milk smells and tastes disgusting, it is also physically bad for you. Since spoiled milk disgusts us, it will keep us from drinking it. In some cases, we might spit out or vomit what we already accidentally drank.

We also feel disgusted when someone does something that we consider wrong, shameful, or even evil. Disgust causes us to reject certain acts or even certain people.

Non-verbal signs of disgust: Wrinkling of the nose and/or lips, covering of the nose and/or mouth, frowning, turning away, vomiting, spitting

Other words to express or describe feelings of disgust:

• Dislike

• Distaste

• Abhorrence

• Revolting

• Revulsion

• Contempt

• Ashamed

• Aversion

• Detestable

• Disapproving

• Hatred

• Loathing

5. Anger

Anger is a powerful emotion that you feel if someone has harmed or threatened you or someone or something that you value. It’s similar to fear in that sense.

Anger is triggered when you face the threat of harm or danger. When you feel anger, however, instead of triggering a “fight or flight” response, it triggers just one response “fight”.

For example, if someone cheats off you on a test, anger will move you to confront them and maybe have a
few choices swear words that you will want to use to describe them.

Non-verbal signs: Frowning, glaring, clenched fists, yelling, raising of the voice, flushed features

Other words to express or describe feelings of anger: 

• Mad

• Hostility

• Aggression

• Antagonism

• Rage

• Enraged

• Furious

• Irritated

• Resentful 

• Annoyed 

• Irate

• Offended

• Outraged

6. Surprise

This emotion is felt when you experience something unexpected. It has similarities to fear but, compared to fear, it’s only felt briefly and can end with you feeling pleasure.

For example, if you walk into a room on your birthday and people come out with a cake, you might briefly startle but eventually, feel happiness. This is a surprise.

A surprise can be unpleasant, in which case it’s more like a shock. For example, if you are
watching a horror movie and a monster suddenly appears on the screen, you will be surprised. This can be considered an unpleasant surprise because you will feel fear briefly.

Non-verbal signs of surprise: Wide eyes, raised eyebrows, an open mouth, rearing or jumping back, gasping, screaming

Other words that mean you were surprised:

• Shocked

• Startled

• Amazed

• Astonished

• Awed

• Stunned

7. Confident

You feel confident if you feel in control of the situation. You can also have confidence in someone else when you believe that they are in control or capable of solving a problem.

8. Embarrassment

If you feel self-conscious or are uneasy in a situation, you feel embarrassed. 

9. Courage

If someone feels fear but decides not to flee but instead stand and fight, they are showing courage.

10. Excitement

If someone feels excited, they are looking forward to an event, or are very interested in something. 

11. Guilt

If you think that you have done something wrong and are uneasy because of it, you are feeling guilt.

12.  Accepted 

You feel accepted when you are recognized as a part of something. You can be accepted into an organization, such as a company, or a social group, such as a family. 

13. Boredom

Someone who feels bored or boredom is not interested in what is going on around them. You can also be bored if you feel that there is nothing happening.

14. Confused

When someone feels confused, they do not understand what is going on.

15. Frustrated

If a situation is not going the way you would like or if you are disappointed in the outcome, you might feel frustrated.

16. Hopeful

If you feel optimistic that a situation will resolve itself in a way that is favorable to you, you will feel hopeful.

17. Curious

If you are feeling curious, it means that you are interested in learning more about something or someone.

18. Jealous

If you are afraid that someone is taking your place or fulfilling your role, you are jealous. This is usually used when talking about a romantic rival. Feeling jealous can lead you to express anger.

19. Lonely

Someone feels lonely if they are physically or even emotionally apart from other people. If you don’t feel accepted by someone or by a group, you might feel lonely.

20. Loving

If someone cares for someone and shows it in their words and actions, they are loving.

21. Kindness

If you are considerate of other people’s feelings, take care not to harm anyone, and do things that will make others happy, then they are expressing kindness.

Aside from learning the different words that are used to describe emotions and feelings, it’s also important to learn idioms and expressions.

Native speakers often use idioms to refer to emotions. For example, if someone has a “face like thunder”, this is an idiom that means someone is feeling anger. Slang and swear words are also another common way that people can express their feelings or describe their moods. 

Feel like learning more? Well, if you find a good online native speaking language tutor, they will be happy to help. 

A good tutor can help you understand the words for emotions that we discussed here. They will also be able to suggest other words and expressions that are used to talk about emotions and feelings that you should learn.

Emotions can be both powerful and complicated. Everyone has moments when they just can’t come up with the right word to describe what they’re feeling or trying to say.

You might be angry and start sputtering. You may feel so overwhelmed that you are speechless. The words are there—you just can’t find them when you’re overcome by emotion.

This can be particularly important in marriages and relationships where being able to communicate what you are feeling is critical. While you won’t want to consult a list in the heat of the moment, this list of words related to feelings can be helpful to return to occasionally or if you’re trying to write your thoughts down.

When You’re Feeling Amorous

When you are feeling interested in sex or intimacy, it can be helpful to have some words for feelings that will help your partner get the message. For example, if your partner is immersed in a television show or book, you might not be sure how to express your interest and initiate intimacy while they are otherwise occupied.

When you’re looking for a word to tell your spouse that you’d like to head into the bedroom, to the sofa, or even to the hammock, you might say that you’re feeling:

• Aroused
• Frisky
• Intimate
• Passionate
• Playful
• Romantic
• Seductive
• Sexy
• Stimulated

When You’re Feeling Angry

When you are upset about something, whether it’s something your partner has done or feelings directed toward someone else, it can be difficult to get your point across in the heat of the moment. In such situations, being direct can often be the most effective. For example, you might simply say, «I am really upset about this!»

The term «anger» covers a wide scale. You might be:

• Aggravated or agitated
• Bothered
• Distressed or disturbed
• Exasperated
• Irritated or irked
• Offended
• Peeved
• Provoked
• Vexed

Then again, something significant or serious may have happened so you feel enraged, furious, incensed, infuriated, or outraged. 

When You’re Feeling Confused 

There are plenty of times you might feel confused about your relationship. Your partner might do something that you don’t know how to interpret or make a comment that isn’t clear.

Rather than allow this confusion to build or lead to erroneous conclusions, let your partner know that you aren’t sure what they mean and ask for clarification.

Did she just say what you think she said? Did she mean it the way it sounded? You’re probably:

• Baffled
• Bewildered
• Clueless
• Lost
• Mixed up
• Mystified
• Perplexed
• Puzzled
• Stumped

Consider saying, «I’m confused about what you are saying. Could you explain that a little more so I can understand?»

When Your Back Is to the Wall 

Feeling as if you are being attacked during an argument can be particularly difficult to cope with. For example, if your partner suddenly accuses you of failing to do something around the house, you might be left feeling upset or overwhelmed.

When you’re accused of some wrongdoing, whether deservedly or not, you’ll probably feel:

• Attacked
• Blamed
• Cornered

When You’re Scared 

Whether you are scared of a specific situation or experiencing a more general worry, letting your partner know what you are feeling can be a way to get the support you need.

Like anger, fright is an emotion that comes in a variety of degrees. You might feel mildly:

• Alarmed
• Anxious
• Apprehensive
• Concerned
• Edgy
• Nervous

Or maybe your spouse has just said, «Can you sit down? We need to talk.» This will most likely bring on a stronger, more visceral reaction and you may feel frantic, paralyzed, petrified, or terrified.

When You’re Happy 

Letting your partner know when you’re happy can also be important for strengthening your relationship. Not only will they feel pleased with your happiness, but it can also be a way of providing feedback about something they have done to help cause your happiness.

When things are going well and your spouse has just said or done something to light up your world, you might say you feel:

• Centered
• Content
• Ecstatic
• Enchanted
• Elated

Other emotions you might feel include excited, exhilarated, fantastic, fulfilled, joyful, jubilant, overjoyed, peaceful, pleased, splendid, or thrilled. If the two of you are recovering from a bad spell, you might feel encouraged or optimistic.

When You’re Hurt 

Hurt covers a spectrum of emotions, too. When your spouse says or does something to hurt you, your feelings can run the gamut from discontent to devastation.

Consider saying something like, «When you said that it made me feel very small» or «I feel like my trust has been betrayed.»

When You’re Lonely 

You can feel lonely in a roomful of people or when you’re sitting beside your spouse. It’s why you feel lonely in this situation and what happened to cause your feeling that matters.

Maybe you feel:

• Abandoned
• Adrift
• Alienated
• Alone
• Deserted
• Discarded
• Disconnected
• Empty

You might also feel excluded, forgotten, ignored, incomplete, isolated, invisible, left out, neglected, unneeded, useless, unaccepted, unappreciated, or worthless.

When You Feel Loved 

There are times when you may also want to express how loved your partner helps you feel. For example, if they do something thoughtful that shows how well they know you and how much they think of you, you may want to find words for what you are feeling.

Hopefully, your spouse makes you feel:

• Cherished
• Needed
• Pampered
• Spoiled
• Treasured

For example, you might say, «I felt so pampered when you took the kids for the afternoon so I could relax.»

When You’re Overwhelmed 

Feeling overwhelmed can be good or bad. On the bright side, something your partner has done may cause you to feel:

• Amazed
• Astonished
• Awestruck
• Dazed
• Delighted

In such cases, you might say, «I’m so amazed that you did that! I’m feeling so overwhelmed, but in a good way!»

On the other hand, you may feel:

• Ambushed
• Appalled
• Disbelieving
• Horrified
• Incredulous
• Overcome
• Shocked
• Stunned

In this case, you might say something more along the lines of, «I’m cannot believe you did that! I’m so horrified!»

When You’re Feeling Resentful 

A lot of things can lead to resentment, but the feeling usually rears its ugly head when you feel shortchanged in some respect. For example, you might feel like your partner isn’t doing their fair share of work around the house or is expecting you to do things that are their own responsibility.

You might say that you feel:

• Controlled
• Judged
• Manipulated
• Owned
• Powerless

Or you might describe yourself as feeling repressed, trapped, used, victimized, violated, intimidated, or even exploited. 

When You’re Sad 

It can be hard to cope when your partner does something that leaves you feeling sad. They might forget an important event or say something hurtful.

Poetry and prose are replete with words to describe sadness. Depending on the degree of your sorrow and what has caused it, you might describe your feeling as:

• Crushed
• Defeated
• Demoralized
• Disappointed
• Gloomy
• Heartbroken
• Let down

Other words you might use to describe feelings of sadness include blue, bummed, dejected, destroyed, discontented, discouraged, disheartened, disillusioned, dismal, grieving, helpless, hopeless, or pessimistic.

When You’re Sorry 

Being able to express regret and apologize is important in any relationship. For example, if you’ve said things that have hurt your partner’s feelings, you may be feeling the need to say that you’re sorry.

We’ve all been there, opening our mouths or taking some action that we instantly regret. You probably feel:

• Apologetic
• Ashamed
• Guilty
• Regretful
• Sheepish

You maybe even feel all these things at once when you’ve hurt someone you love.

When You’re Tired

We’re not talking about how you feel after a long workday, but rather about that feeling that comes over you when you’ve tried and tried to make things right but to no avail. For example, maybe you’ve been arguing about a problem but haven’t come up with an acceptable compromise.

You might feel:

• Burned out
• Drained
• Exhausted
• Fatigued
• Lifeless
• Overloaded
• Stretched
• Weary

When You’re Feeling Understood

Emotional validation is an essential part of a good relationship. Not only is it important to feel that your partner understands you, but it’s also critical to give your partner the same acceptance.

It’s a great experience, feeling:

• Accepted
• Complete
• Listened to
• Recognized

When You’re Unsure

To some extent, these words can go hand-in-hand with confusion. Your spouse has said or done something that you’re trying to decipher and figure out. From there, you can decide how to respond.

«Unsure» words come more into play when you think you might understand where your spouse is coming from and you’re pretty sure you’re not going to like it. You’re probably feeling:

• Cautious
• Guarded
• Leery
• Pensive
• Suspicious
• Torn
• Wary

A Word From Verywell

Improving the communication in your relationship often starts with having the right words to accurately describe what you are feeling. Spend some time now and then going over this list, and practice talking about your feelings more frequently in your daily conversations. Over time, it will get easier to discuss your emotions. Ultimately, sharing what you feel and listening to how your partner feelings can strengthen your relationship and lead to deeper intimacy.

Feelings & Emotions Vocabulary

[Note:  This vocabulary pronunciation is in American English]

Emotions vocabulary words can be really important in describing how we feel and how others are feeling. Most of us know the emotional states happy  and sad, but what about determined and resentful?  Hopefully this list of words will help expand your vocabulary.

The video provides a chance to hear each word pronounced and there is a pause after each word so that you can say the words to practice your pronunciation.

Click the audio player below to hear the pronunciation.

Get Your Free Vocabulary Puzzles eBook

Definitions of Emotions Vocabulary

Now that you’ve heard the words pronounced, you  may still need some help with the definitions of these emotions vocabulary words. Some of the words are similar. All are just various degrees of our positive and negative feelings and emotions.

Emotions Exercise

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