VOCABULARY LISTS : JUST FOR FUN

In the Mood? 100 Ways to Describe How You Feel

November 12, 2014 By Vocabulary.com (NY) Vocabulary.com Moderator
Creative writers, this one's for you! One teacher's chart shows that emotion words all boil down to fear, anger, happiness, anger, and disgust. Improve your EQ by learning them all.
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100 Words Assignments
definitions & notes only words
  1. abandoned
    forsaken by owner or inhabitants
    Adopted children must face issues of abandonment as they grow older.
  2. accepted
    generally approved or compelling recognition
    He has been a wonderful guy from the start and has always accepted my oldest, even though he is not his biological father.Washington Post
  3. aggressive
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    But Bowser could appoint new and aggressive leaders in other city agencies, where Gray’s appointees have tended to be more cautious.Washington Post
  4. alienated
    socially disoriented
    The more vigilant Allen was, the more resentful and alienated Nicholas became, and the worse things got.Class Matters
  5. amazed
    filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise
    White was amazed when around 500 people showed up.Washington Times (Nov 9, 2014)
  6. amused
    pleasantly occupied
    "I can tell you, he's keeping his doctors amused."US News (Nov 6, 2014)
  7. anxious
    causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
    When rumors have circulated that officers were about to clear the site, Chan has sought to calm anxious protesters.Los Angeles Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  8. apathetic
    showing little or no emotion or animation
    “And some people are able to inspire otherwise apathetic young people to vote.”Forbes (Oct 21, 2014)
  9. ashamed
    feeling guilt or embarrassment or remorse
    Then, ashamed and embarrassed, he disappeared under a duvet and grieved.BBC (Nov 4, 2014)
  10. astonished
    filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise
    "Oh my God," he sputters, clearly astonished by the claim.BBC (Oct 18, 2014)
  11. aversion
    a feeling of intense dislike
    One awareness patient, formerly a jazz aficionado, developed a bizarre aversion to the style after an awareness experience. Scientific American (Nov 11, 2014)
  12. avoidance
    deliberately avoiding
    A small percentage use it for avoidance, to create a distraction, and an even smaller percentage use it to get attention.New York Times (Oct 30, 2014)
  13. awed
    inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
    Who can forget being awed by the choreographed treadmill dance from “Here We Go Again”?Salon (Oct 27, 2014)
  14. awful
    exceptionally bad or displeasing
    Well, it's ugly, it's awful, but at least it's official.Los Angeles Times (Nov 11, 2014)
  15. bored
    tired of the world
    But she is too bored and depressed to sleep.New York Times (Nov 11, 2014)
  16. confident
    having or marked by assurance
    And Pierce, confident as ever, will not hesitate to shoot.Washington Post
  17. confused
    unable to think with clarity or act intelligently
    Veterans service organizations had braced for a flood of calls from confused veterans, but said so far they’ve not heard any complaints.Washington Times (Nov 11, 2014)
  18. courageous
    able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
    "To share in this way is courageous, powerful and generous," Dunham tweeted at the time, adding a link to Dylan Farrow's letter.Seattle Times (Nov 4, 2014)
  19. critical
    marked by a tendency to find and call attention to flaws
    Try not to be too critical when assessing students' first drafts, but do focus on key places where they can improve.
  20. depressed
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    Hours of rehabilitation left him feeling depressed at times.Los Angeles Times (Nov 11, 2014)
  21. despair
    a state in which all hope is lost or absent
    At the end, in despair, Katerina drowns herself in a lake, dragging her rival with her.New York Times (Nov 11, 2014)
  22. detestable
    offensive to the mind
    Instead of making him more likable, it made him more detestable and he ended up becoming passive-aggressive.Salon (Oct 19, 2014)
  23. devastate
    overwhelm or overpower
    In the aftermath of the quake, ordinary Italians were devastated and outraged.The Verge (Nov 11, 2014)
  24. disappointed
    sadly unsuccessful
    One mother, Koh Young-hee, said she was deeply disappointed and furious because she had hoped that all of the defendants would be sentenced to death.Washington Post
  25. disapproving
    expressing or manifesting disapproval
    Orton was sitting at a table with friends beside a "rather stuffy American tourist and his disapproving wife."BBC (Oct 11, 2014)
  26. disillusioned
    freed from false ideas
    People were scared, disillusioned and confused, so they didn’t vote. Salon (Nov 10, 2014)
  27. dismayed
    struck with fear, dread, or consternation
    One side was euphoric, the other dismayed, but both foes and supporters of same-sex marriage swiftly turned their attention to the U.S.Washington Times (Nov 7, 2014)
  28. disrespectful
    exhibiting lack of regard; rude and discourteous
    "It appears some disrespectful cowards spray painted their tagging crew and tagger names over the memorial," the police department stated on its Facebook page.Los Angeles Times (Nov 11, 2014)
  29. distant
    remote in manner
    Her parents, though, were distant, and the young Jean soon developed the strong independent streak which has characterised her life.BBC (Nov 10, 2014)
  30. eager
    having or showing keen interest or intense desire
    Democratic-primary voters are always eager to see a fresh potential candidate.The New Yorker (Nov 10, 2014)
  31. ecstatic
    feeling great rapture or delight
    "I was just so ecstatic to get the ring back."Chicago Tribune (Nov 6, 2014)
  32. embarrassed
    feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious
    Together, they embrace then pull apart as if embarrassed by the physical closeness.Seattle Times (Nov 10, 2014)
  33. empty
    void of emotion
    Instead I felt empty, and inside I wanted to cry.BBC (Nov 11, 2014)
  34. energetic
    possessing or displaying forceful exertion
    Niall had been a goofy, energetic, creative kid who wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do with his life.Washington Post
  35. enraged
    marked by extreme anger
    When he returned home, he searched his wife’s cell phone and became enraged when he found a picture of another man, prosecutors said.Reuters (Nov 7, 2014)
  36. excited
    in an aroused state
    "Musically, visually, the image, the performance, everything aligned. I was very excited."Los Angeles Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  37. frightened
    made afraid
    “If someone talks about using force, I am frightened,” she said.New York Times (Nov 9, 2014)
  38. frustrated
    disappointingly unsuccessful
    "But it still make me sad that I can’t speak well. I call my interpreter when I get frustrated."Reuters (Nov 12, 2014)
  39. fulfilled
    completed to perfection
    Cut to a shot of a walker shambling ever forward, presumably happy and fulfilled by his life’s “ambition” to eat another brain.Time (Nov 9, 2014)
  40. furious
    marked by extreme anger
    White House officials were furious, calling Krone's behavior "unprofessional."Seattle Times (Nov 10, 2014)
  41. guilty
    showing a sense of wrongness
    Bonus points for having Unser actually feel guilty about taking a life.Los Angeles Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  42. hateful
    evoking or deserving hatred
    Most people have been supportive, she said, but others have been hateful.Los Angeles Times (Nov 9, 2014)
  43. hesitant
    unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
    He is hesitant around me, kind of respectfully shy.The Help
  44. hopeful
    having or manifesting optimism
    His critique of Reaganism, published in 1986, missed what others plainly saw, that a genuinely hopeful spirit was animating the American right.New York Times (Nov 9, 2014)
  45. hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
    They continued to back Mr. Dunkle, saying an independent investigation had found he had not created a hostile work environment, Bishop Sisk said.New York Times (Nov 7, 2014)
  46. humiliated
    subdued or brought low in condition or status
    I felt humiliated in front of my colleagues and unmasked as a weak person not competent to manage difficult patients.Slate (Nov 9, 2014)
  47. hurt
    psychological suffering
    “It hurts me and it pains me. Paul is with him, but I sometimes feel like I’m failing as a mother.”New York Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  48. ignored
    disregarded
    Have you ever felt ignored for no reason at all?
  49. important
    of great significance or value
    Giving children a time to present their work makes them feel important, which leads to their taking their work more seriously.
  50. inadequate
    not sufficient to meet a need
    Watching your children founder in school can leave a parent feeling hopeless and inadequate.
  51. indifferent
    marked by a lack of interest
    A few staffers, though, seemed either indifferent or downright surly.Forbes (Nov 7, 2014)
  52. inferior
    of low quality
    We love watching the pros, but let's be honest, it can make us feel a bit inferior when it comes to our golf games.Golf Digest (Oct 16, 2013)
  53. infuriated
    marked by extreme anger
    The result was an act of parliament that, in attempting to satisfy everyone, infuriated millions.BBC (Nov 6, 2014)
  54. inquisitive
    showing curiosity
    Her older sister, Boedges added, “is an inquisitive girl, very talkative.”Washington Post
  55. insecure
    lacking self-confidence or assurance
    I was so insecure, and I hated myself.Time (Nov 1, 2014)
  56. insignificant
    of little importance or influence or power; of minor status
    “Hell, a kid’s already scared of being small and insignificant,” he once said.The New Yorker (Nov 5, 2014)
  57. inspired
    of surpassing excellence
    Are you feeling inspired and ready to put your new-found, seemingly easy strategies into action starting tomorrow?Forbes (Nov 12, 2014)
  58. interested
    showing curiosity or fascination or concern
    She learned Braille “because I’m interested in tactile things. I’m interested in hair as a language. So why not go to a tactile language?”Washington Times (Nov 9, 2014)
  59. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
    The couple grew so intimate that the woman promised she would move to New York in six months.New York Times (Nov 7, 2014)
  60. irritated
    aroused to impatience or anger
    But he spoke like a frustrated political veteran, as if decades of merely watching the news had left him irritated and saddened.The New Yorker (Nov 4, 2014)
  61. isolated
    being or feeling set or kept apart from others
    "Growing up, I was isolated from this issue, rarely talked about it," Stonebraker said.Reuters (Nov 11, 2014)
  62. jealous
    suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival
    "I think it was really hard. I think he was a little jealous of the video guy at first," Gomez joked.Los Angeles Times (Nov 6, 2014)
  63. joyful
    full of or producing great happiness
    Investors squeezed in a joyful one-hour lunch break before the afternoon panels.Forbes (Nov 8, 2014)
  64. judgmental
    depending on assessing a person or situation or event
    Those who are asleep at the switch, or judgmental, get hurt.New York Times (Nov 10, 2014)
  65. liberated
    free from traditional social restraints
    It was as if the reduced expectations had liberated her.Washington Post
  66. loathing
    hate coupled with disgust
    The man they are seeking is described as a survivalist and an excellent shot, with a loathing for law-enforcement officials.New York Times (Sep 21, 2014)
  67. lonely
    marked by sadness from being by yourself
    Company exhausted him, even though he grew lonely in its absence.Slate (Nov 5, 2014)
  68. loving
    feeling or showing love and affection
    "He was so patient. He wasn't a complainer. He was so loving, despite all the stuff that he went through," his wife said.US News (Nov 11, 2014)
  69. mad
    roused to anger
    “Because either way you voted on that, you’re making somebody mad. And the financial sector was furious.”The New Yorker (Nov 10, 2014)
  70. open
    straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness
    What’s more, other governments seem open to following the example from Down Under.Time (Nov 12, 2014)
  71. optimistic
    hopeful that the best will happen in the future
    She said the talks were going well and she felt optimistic that progress could be made.BBC (Nov 12, 2014)
  72. overwhelm
    overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
    She was a little overwhelmed with being the adored focus of such power, as he rose and fell.The Guardian (Nov 12, 2014)
  73. peaceful
    not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
    In 2001, my husband and I ditched the dot-com rat race of Silicon Valley for a more peaceful life in the mountains of Lake Tahoe.New York Times (Nov 10, 2014)
  74. perplexed
    full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
    The bankers who arrange the loan deals say that they are perplexed.New York Times (Nov 4, 2014)
  75. playful
    full of fun and high spirits
    He says the fourth “Toy Story” installment will “open a new chapter” in the lives of Woody, Buzz and their playful pals.Washington Times (Nov 7, 2014)
  76. powerful
    having great force or effect
    The first option is benevolent, but the second is powerful.Forbes (Nov 12, 2014)
  77. powerless
    lacking power
    If anything goes wrong then, scientists will be powerless to do anything but watch.Seattle Times (Nov 11, 2014)
  78. proud
    feeling self-respect, self-esteem, or self-importance
    “He’s very stubborn, a little fighter. And that’s why I’m proud of him,” his father told the TV station.Los Angeles Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  79. provocative
    serving or tending to excite or stimulate
    The teenagers did not appear to be engaged in violent or provocative behavior at the time they were shot.New York Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  80. rejected
    rebuffed (by a lover) without warning
    The break up with his best friend left him feeling lonely, rejected, and generally out of sorts.
  81. remorseful
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
    In a statement, Chow said the running back was “contrite, embarrassed and remorseful.”Washington Times (Oct 15, 2014)
  82. repugnant
    offensive to the mind
    These incidents now strike us as repugnant discrimination.Slate (Nov 7, 2014)
  83. resentful
    full of or marked by indignant ill will
    This is how we, the electorate, are being described: sour, dyspeptic, demoralized, disgusted, rebellious, frustrated, resentful, angry.Seattle Times (Nov 7, 2014)
  84. respected
    receiving deferential regard
    “It makes people feel appreciated, valued and respected.”US News (Nov 11, 2014)
  85. ridicule
    the act of deriding or treating with contempt
    Have football's routinely ridiculed executives actually changed something for the better?BBC (Nov 12, 2014)
  86. sarcastic
    expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds
    “I was thrilled we shot more free throws as a team than James Harden,” a sarcastic Sixers coach Brett Brown said.Seattle Times (Nov 4, 2014)
  87. scared
    made afraid
    "I'm scared right now," she said as she watched smoke from the burning house.US News (Nov 11, 2014)
  88. sensitive
    responsive to physical stimuli
    The child was sensitive, perceiving even the slightest teasing as an aggressive attack.
  89. shocked
    struck with fear, dread, or surprise
    The photo of a wide-eyed, shocked Loren glancing over at Mansfield captures a classic Hollywood moment.Los Angeles Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  90. skeptical
    marked by or given to doubt
    Faced with skeptical — or sexist — editors and colleagues, the women found that work sometimes came at the price of their personal lives.New York Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  91. startled
    excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
  92. submissive
    inclined or willing to give in to orders or wishes of others
    Finally, a textbook that teaches women the manly pursuit of science in terms that our feeble, submissive lady brains will understand.Salon (Oct 14, 2014)
  93. suspicious
    openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
    The survey suggested that most customers remained suspicious of how companies used their data.BBC (Nov 12, 2014)
  94. terrified
    thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
    "She knew she was going to be murdered. She was terrified".BBC (Nov 12, 2014)
  95. threatened
    likely in the near future to become endangered
    "I was disgusted that my voice was ignored, but they felt threatened after being called by a politician."BBC (Nov 12, 2014)
  96. victimized
    of persons; taken advantage of
    Any girl suspected of being attracted to girls was gossiped about, victimized, and shunned.Middlesex: A Novel
  97. vulnerable
    capable of being wounded or hurt
    "She is so funny and vulnerable," he said.Los Angeles Times (Nov 12, 2014)
  98. withdrawn
    tending to reserve or introspection
    Executive coach Maureen Moriarty believes that those who fail to communicate their feelings at work are often perceived as aloof, cold, withdrawn or untrustworthy.US News (Nov 11, 2014)
  99. worried
    afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble
    According to the survey, 80% of Americans are worried about the government’s monitoring of phone and Internet communications.Wall Street Journal (Nov 12, 2014)
  100. worthless
    lacking in usefulness or value
    “I was just tired of it. I was letting my family down; I was feeling worthless.”US News (Nov 5, 2014)

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