Words to describe emotions
Words for what characters feel, grouped by feeling, with the opposite of each close by.
About this list
Each emotion is its own group, and each group has its opposite nearby: pleasure and pain, hope and despair, courage and fear. A character’s feelings usually need the verb and the adjective more than the noun.
Pleasure
Nouns
- good
- well-being
- without worry
- treat
- transport
- golden time
- happy valley
- golden age
- pleasure
- joy
- third heaven †
- happiness
- comfort
- luxury
- ease
- cloud nine
- mind at ease
- paradise
- satisfaction
- sunshine
- seventh heaven
- cheer
- delight
- enjoyment
- bliss
- amusement
- honeymoon
- cushion
- glee
- ecstasy
- Dixie
- felicity
- relish
- gratification
- fruition
- zest
- rapture
- Arcadia †
- complacency
- gusto
- enchantment
- refreshment
- Shangri-La
- elysium
- halcyon days
- hedonism
- beautification
- gladness
Verbs
- in
- from
- like
- take to
- love
- take in good part
- feel at home
- enjoy
- joy
- take pleasure
- feel pleasure
- experience pleasure
- be pleased
- be pleased with
- receive pleasure
- take a fancy to
- have a liking for
- delight in
- breathe freely
- enjoy oneself
- indulge in
- treat oneself to
- derive pleasure
- rejoice in
- hug oneself
- be in clover
- relish
- tread on enchanted ground
- solace oneself with
- bask in the sunshine
- be in elysium
- gloat over
- fall into raptures
- go into raptures
- luxuriate in
Adjectives
- happy
- not sorry
- content
- happy as a king
- glad
- comfortable
- pleased
- enjoying
- at ease
- blessed
- in paradise
- pleased as Punch
- transported
- pleasing
- without alloy
- fascinated
- with sparkling eyes
- enchanted
- joyful
- with a joyful face
- ecstatic
- happy as a clam
- painless
- thrice happy
- captivated
- blissful
- in a blissful state
- overjoyed
- entranced
- cloudless
- hedonic †
- blest
- in raptures
- beatified
- unalloyed
- in ecstasies
Adverbs
Pain
Nouns
- care
- taking
- pain
- trial
- worry
- smart
- heavy heart
- trouble
- broken heart
- concern
- iron age
- hell upon earth
- blow
- load
- victim
- suffering
- shock
- anxiety
- passion
- bother
- mental suffering
- burden
- nightmare
- torture
- grief
- bleeding heart
- prey
- distress
- bore
- misery
- plague
- object of compassion
- reign of terror
- despair
- depth of misery
- sorrow
- discomfort
- agony
- stew
- ordeal
- martyr
- bitterness
- ache
- irritation
- anguish
- discontent
- torment
- peck of troubles
Verbs
- take on
- give way
- go hard with
- be in a taking
- take to heart
- feel pain
- experience pain
- smart
- be the victim of
- fall on evil days
- bear pain
- bear the cross
- suffer
- suffer pain
- break one's heart
- fall a sacrifice to
- sink
- pine
- come to grief
- weigh upon the heart
- despair
- endure pain
- undergo pain
- bleed
- worry oneself
- ache
- mourn
- grieve
- fret
- sit on thorns
- sup full of horrors
- yearn
- wince
- labor under afflictions
- languish
- fret and fume
- droop
- chafe
- ail
- quaff the bitter cup
Adjectives
- in a way
- lost
- in a taking
- cut up
- sorry
- poor
- in pain
- full of pain
- concerned
- heart-broken
- ill-used
- worried
- suffering
- in tears
- ill at ease
- uncomfortable
- devoted
- unfortunate
- in grief
- miserable
- unhappy
- crushed
- sore
- a prey to
- on the rack
- in despair
- disturbed
- doomed
- broken-hearted
- a prey to grief
- heavy laden
- stranded
- weary
- stricken
- heart-stricken
- horror-stricken
- uneasy
- horrified
- undone
- wretched
- plunged in grief
- in limbo
- aching
- afflicted
- victimized
- fey
- displeased
- pained
Cheerfulness
Nouns
- life
- light heart
- marriage bell
- animation
- good humor
- spirits
- high spirits
- sunshine of the mind
- laughter
- animal spirits
- cheer
- flow of spirits
- optimism
- glee
- high glee
- heyday
- self complacency
- rejoicing
- hilarity
- mirth
- levity
- hedonism
- sweet forgetfulness
- exhilaration
- merriment
- alacrity
- cheerfulness
- liveliness
- vivacity
- jollity
- merrymaking
- joviality
- geniality
Verbs
- light up
- take heart
- bear up
- cast away care
- smile
- put in good humor
- cheer
- cheer up
- raise the spirits
- cheer the heart
- carol
- inspire
- delight
- keep up one's spirits
- drive dull care away
- be cheerful
- rejoice
- rejoice the heart
- brighten up
- perk up
- animate
- frisk
- chirp
- enliven
- lilt
- gladden
Adjectives
- happy
- light
- full of play
- free and easy
- happy as a king
- all alive
- full of spirit
- bright
- hilarious
- in good spirits
- in spirits
- in high spirits
- smiling
- animated
- sunny
- of good cheer
- laughter-loving
- bully
- lively
- cardiac
- cheering
- hopeful
- light hearted
- pleasing
- merry as a cricket
- in high feather
- cheerful
- sparkling
- spirited
- playful
- joyful
- hearty
- joyous
- playful as a kitten
- flushed
- airy
- rattling
- brisk as a bee
- breezy
- exhilarating
- cheery
- buoyant
- elated
- rejoicing
- bonny
- chipper
- jolly as a thrush
- frisky
Adverbs
Dejection
Nouns
- long face
- broken heart
- failure of heart
- depression
- sorry sight
- blues
- grave face
- gravity
- bad spirits
- low spirits
- weight on the spirits
- depression of spirits
- wet blanket
- sadness
- depressed spirits
- despair
- heart sinking
- blue devils
- seek sorrow
- cave of despair
- oppression on the spirits
- disgust of life
- hope deferred
- horrors
- damp on the spirits
- mal du pays
- melancholy
- dumps
- gloom
- spleen
- affliction
- pessimism
- damper
- mumps †
- vapors
- pessimist
- voiceless woe
- weariness
- heaviness
- heaviness of heart
- drooping spirits
- solemnity
- doldrums
- Job's comforter
- melancholia
- self-tormentor
- hypochondriac
- mope
Verbs
- take on
- give way
- make a long face
- take to heart
- lower
- look blue
- lose heart
- pull a long face
- lay to heart
- hang down the head
- knock down
- be grave
- look grave
- break one's heart
- sink
- pine
- pine away
- cast a shade on
- dash
- weigh on the mind
- prey on the mind
- dull
- despair
- weigh on the spirits
- prey on the spirits
- dash one's hopes
- damp
- discourage
- damp the spirits
- refrain from laughter
- damp one's hopes
- mourn
- grieve
- cast a gloom
- fret
- frown
- brood over
- frown upon
- wither one's hopes
- yearn
- grin a ghastly smile
- keep one's countenance
- depress
- depress the spirits
- pout
- repress a smile
- be dejected
- prostrate
Adjectives
- lost
- out of heart
- cut up
- serious
- dark
- a cup too low
- broken down
- sad
- down in the mouth
- heart sick
- sick at heart
- flat
- soul sick
- stayed
- in tears
- long-faced
- down fallen
- overcome
- down in one's luck
- grave as a judge
- out of sorts
- ill at ease
- out of humor
- in bad humor
- out of spirits
- in low spirits
- unhappy
- dull
- sober
- sober as a judge
- jaw fallen
- depressing
- in despair
- wan
- lowering
- broken-hearted
- heavy-hearted
- sunk
- moody
- grim
- borne down
- dreadful
- grim-faced
- discouraged
- weary
- crest fallen
- low spirited
- solemn
Adverbs
Hope
Nouns
- hope
- security
- trust
- staff
- star of hope
- day dream
- faith
- promise
- confidence
- ray of hope
- clear sky
- desire
- heaven
- bit of blue sky
- heart of grace
- golden dream
- flash of hope
- hopes
- dawn of hope
- good prospect
- beam of hope
- assumption
- cheer
- anchor
- enthusiasm
- bright prospect
- fond hope
- sheet anchor
- silver lining
- assurance
- reliance
- anticipation
- well grounded hopes
- millennium
- optimism
- castles in the air
- castles in Spain
- Utopia
- aspiration
- mirage
- reassurance
- good auspices
- presumption
- airy hopes
- utopian
- good omen
- glimmer of hope
- fool's paradise
Verbs
- look up
- hope
- hope for
- hope for the best
- give hope
- feel hope
- be of good heart
- take heart
- live in hope
- see land
- trust
- hope against hope
- expect
- hold out hope
- promise
- raise hope
- feed hope
- take heart of grace
- encourage
- encourage hope
- feel confident
- rest confident
- bid fair
- foster hope
- put one's trust in
- rely on
- raise expectations
- harbor hope
- lean upon
- assure
- be of good cheer
- cheer
- feel assured
- rest assured
- inspire hope
- pin one's hope upon
- keep one's spirits up
- catch at a straw
- pin one's faith upon
- entertain hope
- be hopeful
- anticipate
- presume
- indulge hope
- promise oneself
- cherish hope
- cling to hope
- tell a flattering tale
Adjectives
- looking up
- in good heart
- free from fear
- of promise
- hoping
- full of promise
- secure
- bright
- confident
- within sight of land
- in hopes
- encouraging
- promising
- rose-colored
- within sight of shore
- free from suspicion
- enthusiastic
- cheering
- free from despair
- hopeful
- probable
- exempt from fear
- exempt from suspicion
- fearless
- exempt from despair
- free from distrust
- reassuring
- self reliant
- flushed
- exempt from distrust
- utopian
- unsuspecting
- of good omen
- auspicious
- buoyant
- elated
- sanguine
- buoyed up
- propitious
- exultant
- roseate
Adverbs
Hopelessness
Nouns
- bad business
- bad job
- gone case
- depression
- dead duck
- surrender
- submission
- resignation
- despair
- cave of Despair
- desperation
- vain expectation
- hope deferred
- abandonment
- gloomy horizon
- dashed hopes
- airy hopes
- bird of bad omen
- bird of ill omen
- gone coon
- desolation
- pessimism
- hopelessness
- forlorn hope
- pessimist
- goner
- Job's comforter
- despondency
Verbs
- give up
- give over
- give up all hope
- hope against hope
- lose the hope of
- lose all hope
- submit
- surrender
- abandon
- abandon all hope
- abandon the hope of
- resign
- destroy one's hopes
- crush one's hopes
- despair
- drive to despair
- dash one's hopes
- yield to despair
- inspire despair
- relinquish all hope
- relinquish the hope of
- falter
- disconcert
Adjectives
- given up
- given over
- out of the question
- gone
- past hope
- past recall
- desperate
- past cure
- ruined
- threatening
- in despair
- beyond remedy
- broken hearted
- hopeless
- at one's last gasp
- undone
- irreversible
- desolate
- clouded over
- incurable
- past mending
- irreparable
- forlorn
- irrevocable
- despairing
- incorrigible
- inconsolable
- inauspicious
- irredeemable
- impracticable
- unpromising
- irretrievable
- irrecoverable
- irremediable
Fear
Nouns
- care
- fear
- worry
- concern
- want of confidence
- anxiety
- horror
- panic
- terror
- terrorism
- nightmare
- cold sweat
- bug bear
- shaking
- scare
- suspicion
- reign of terror
- despair
- awe
- dread
- hesitation
- mortal funk
- intimidation
- fright
- trembling
- dismay
- fear and trembling
- stampede
- throbbing heart
- ogre
- apprehension
- scarecrow
- flutter
- mistrust
- tremor
- nervousness
- abject fear
- consternation
- restlessness
- quivering
- trepidation
- perturbation
- Gorgon
- alarmist
- boof alarm
- timidity
- hobgoblin
- despondency
Verbs
- start
- fear
- put in fear
- fly
- be afraid
- shake
- alarm
- take alarm
- give an alarm
- sound an alarm
- shy
- raise an alarm
- cow
- stop one's breath
- take away one's breath
- strike terror
- scare
- turn pale
- grow pale
- weigh on the mind
- prey on the mind
- inspire fear
- threaten
- bully
- awe
- hesitate
- stand in awe of
- put in bodily fear
- strike an awe into
- shrink
- funk
- make one's flesh creep
- inspire awe
- discourage
- haunt
- pile on the agony
- deter
- quake
- distrust
- intimidate
- make one's teeth chatter
- fright
- excite fear
- crouch
- dismay
- sit upon thorns
- excite awe
- quail
Adjectives
- in fear
- fell
- terrible
- afraid
- awful
- horrible
- nervous
- white as a sheet
- horror-struck
- shocking
- pale
- tremendous
- pale as death
- afraid of one's shadow
- inspiring fear
- pale as a ghost
- terrific
- horrific
- frightened
- frightened to death
- more frightened than hurt
- pale as ashes
- dire
- dreadful
- formidable
- dread
- awe-inspiring
- restless
- fearing
- fearful
- alarming
- faint-hearted
- horror-stricken
- panic-stricken
- shaky
- terror-stricken
- awe-stricken
- in a fright
- horrid
- timid
- breathless
- perilous
- coy
- ghastly
- apprehensive
- revolting
- aghast
- in hysterics
Courage
Nouns
- man
- game
- face
- heart
- bottom
- spirit
- hero
- confidence
- resolution
- Amazon
- heart of grace
- achievement
- courage
- tiger
- lion
- nerve
- heart of oak
- dash
- feat
- bold stroke
- virtue
- bully
- exploit
- heroic act
- self-reliance
- guts
- daring
- contempt of danger
- panther
- bravery
- Hector
- backbone
- heroic deed
- defiance
- defiance of danger
- fire eater
- bulldog
- prowess
- bulldog courage
- audacity
- heroism
- valor
- manhood
- fortitude
- pluck
- chivalry
- intestinal fortitude
- boldness
Verbs
- make a man of
- face
- look in the face
- meet
- take heart
- face the music
- show fight
- stand against
- meet in front
- bear up
- bear up against
- face danger
- front danger
- encourage
- bell the cat
- rally
- brave
- dare
- take courage
- give courage
- hold up one's head
- venture
- make bold
- pat on the back
- show a bold front
- nerve
- present a bold front
- come up to scratch
- brave danger
- stick to one's guns
- beard
- cheer
- inspire courage
- mock danger
- confront danger
- be courageous
- summon up courage
- despise danger
- nerve oneself
- defy
- defy danger
- muster courage
- reassure
- raise a rallying cry
- pluck up courage
- keep in countenance
- affront danger
- infuse courage
Adjectives
- up to
- firm
- determined
- confident
- brave
- bold
- up to the scratch
- heart of oak
- strong-minded
- savage
- bold as a lion
- fierce
- hardy
- bold as brass
- heroic
- iron-hearted
- daring
- manly
- lion-hearted
- courageous
- fearless
- high-spirited
- spirited
- adventurous
- bold-spirited
- stout
- self-reliant
- valiant
- stout-hearted
- dashing
- gallant
- resolute
- reassured
- intrepid
- dogged
- audacious
- enterprising
- doughty
- upon one's mettle
- dauntless
- undaunted
- plucky
- unabashed
- unflinching
- chivalrous
- pugnacious
- valorous
- soldierly
Wonder
Nouns
- wonder
- surprise
- marvel
- sensation
- awe
- admiration
- note of admiration
- fascination
- amazement
- astonishment
- stupor
- bewilderment
- wonderment
Verbs
- start
- turn the head
- wonder
- be wonderful
- surprise
- take by surprise
- be surprised
- strike
- strike with wonder
- not believe one's eyes
- open one's eyes
- strike dumb
- turn up one's eyes
- open one's mouth
- marvel
- look blank
- take away one's breath
- hold one's breath
- not believe one's ears
- admire
- make one stare
- stare
- rub one's eyes
- not believe one's senses
- strike with awe
- stun
- amaze
- beggar description
- beggar the imagination
- dazzle
- daze
- stagger
- stagger belief
- baffle description
- startle
- confound
- look aghast
- stand aghast
- gape
- fascinate
- astonish
- electrify
- astound
- stand agog
- bewilder
- petrify
- stupefy
Adjectives
- wonderful
- wonder-working
- lost in wonder
- surprised
- strange
- incredible
- passing strange
- surprising
- planet-struck
- unexpected
- striking
- mysterious
- overwhelming
- marvelous
- miraculous
- monstrous
- unheard of
- breathless
- unimaginable
- unspeakable
- wondrous
- open-mouthed
- inconceivable
- lost in amazement
- prodigious
- indescribable
- lost in astonishment
- stupendous
- spellbound
- agape
- aghast
- awestruck
- thunderstruck
- all agog
- inexpressible
- moonstruck
- unutterable
Adverbs
Love
Nouns
- the
- love
- free love
- heart
- love story
- young love
- young man
- old story
- favorite
- love suit
- transport of love
- fellow-feeling
- angel
- passion
- regard
- fancy
- love affair
- love tale
- lover
- popularity
- duck
- darling
- flame
- enthusiasm
- goddess
- sympathy
- liking
- puppy love
- idol
- tender passion
- affection
- attachment
- love token
- Venus
- parental love
- maternal love
- sweetheart
- devotion
- captive
- admiration
- beau
- follower
- flirt
- inclination
- myrtle
- attractiveness
- fiancee
- tenderness
Verbs
- for
- like
- take to
- love
- have a love
- be in love with
- make much of
- care for
- turn the head
- take an interest in
- win the heart
- fall in love with
- gain the heart
- bear love to
- look sweet upon
- hold dear
- desire
- secure the love
- affect
- prize
- wind round the heart
- get into favor
- burn
- pet
- regard
- fancy
- take a fancy to
- pay one's court to
- lose one's heart
- attract
- be partial to
- set one's cap at
- charm
- hug
- affection
- curry favor with
- entertain a love
- feast one's eyes on
- love to distraction
- attach
- adore
- cherish
- flirt
- cling to
- harbor cherish a love
- worm oneself
- excite love
- seduce
Adjectives
- in love
- little
- taken with
- popular
- interesting
- loved
- winning
- favorite
- sweet
- love-sick
- dear
- lovely
- sweet upon
- attractive
- attached to
- loving
- pet
- like an angel
- struck with
- to one's mind
- after one's mind
- precious
- after one's own heart
- to one's own heart
- to one's taste
- after one's taste
- devoted
- engaging
- fascinating
- darling
- passionate
- tender
- charming
- to one's fancy
- adorable
- after one's fancy
- nearest to one's heart
- fond
- fond of
- beloved well beloved
- sympathetic
- erotic
- bitten
- dearly beloved
- affectionate
- ardent
- charmed
- lovable
Hate
Nouns
- hate
- bad blood
- enemy
- ill blood
- hatred
- object of hatred
- bitter pill
- bitterness of feeling
- malice
- grudge
- source of annoyance
- aversion
- animosity
- alienation
- abomination
- enmity
- vials of hate
- spleen bitterness
- pique
- coolness
- antipathy
- unpopularity
- estrangement
- disaffection
- acrimony
- umbrage
- dudgeon
- misanthropy
- disfavor
- odium
- repugnance
- detestation
- object of execration
Verbs
- set against
- hate
- view with horror
- set by the ears
- take a dislike to
- revolt against
- shrink from
- be hateful
- provoke hatred
- bear malice
- bear a grudge
- incense
- owe a grudge
- excite hatred
- repel
- recoil at
- bear spleen
- hold in abomination
- loathe
- shudder at
- irritate
- alienate
- conceive an aversion to
- stink in the nostrils
- detest
- abhor
- scowl
- rile
- sow dissension
- estrange
- horrify
- roil
Adjectives
- set against
- not on speaking terms
- offensive
- rejected
- crossed in love
- disgusting
- bitter
- shocking
- un-valued
- hating
- insulting
- malicious
- irritating
- hateful
- provoking
- disliked
- obnoxious
- repulsive
- forsaken
- averse from
- at daggers drawn
- abhorrent
- reprehensible
- spiteful
- abominable
- unloved
- odious
- implacable
- jilted
- at loggerheads
- lovelorn
- invidious
- uncared for
Resentment
Nouns
- taking
- high words
- fit
- hot blood
- violence
- storm
- ill turn
- ill blood
- pet
- heart-burning
- passion
- anger
- bone to pick
- box on the ear
- revenge
- offense
- angry mood
- explosion
- excitement
- bad humor
- burst
- rage
- ill humor
- slap in the face
- sore subject
- fury
- fire and fury
- outrage
- bad temper
- warmth
- ill temper
- wrath
- heart-swelling
- resentment
- desperation
- buffet
- bitter resentment
- bitterness
- irritation
- grudge
- gall
- rap on the knuckles
- ire
- towering passion
- bile
- provocation
- animosity
- displeasure
Verbs
- look black
- fire up
- take in bad part
- take fire
- take to heart
- lower
- color
- throw
- fly out
- take ill
- storm
- take in ill part
- drive one mad
- hurt the feelings
- hit on the raw
- anger
- cut up rough
- cause anger
- put one's back up
- take exception
- set by the ears
- strike on the raw
- fly into a passion
- give offense
- raise anger
- take offense
- wound
- snap
- put out of humor
- show one's teeth
- look black as thunder
- rage
- get into a rage
- fall into a rage
- stamp the foot
- fly into a rage
- fan into a flame
- insult
- breathe revenge
- burst with anger
- stir the blood
- champ the bit
- put one's monkey up
- champ at the bit
- rub on the raw
- boil
- boil over
- kindle
Adjectives
- in a way
- in a taking
- set against
- worked up
- cross
- hurt
- up in arms
- wild
- warm
- angry
- burning
- violent
- in a passion
- bitter
- in a rage
- savage
- mad with rage
- sore
- furious
- offended
- fierce
- in a fury
- boiling
- boiling over
- wrath
- raging
- on one's high ropes
- fiery
- relentless
- in a stew
- wrought
- flushed with anger
- flushed with rage
- rabid
- in a huff
- foaming
- fuming
- foaming at the mouth
- virulent
- indignant
- irate
- waxy
- in a fume
- acrimonious
- in a pucker
- infuriate
- sulky
- convulsed with rage
Adverbs
Jealousy
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Envy
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Sources and licenses
- Categories and period vocabulary from the 1911 edition of Roget's Thesaurus, in the public domain. A dagger (†) marks a word its editors already called obsolete.
- Words are ordered by how often they appear in modern English, measured with wordfreq.