271 Emotion Words (+ PDF)

Emotions are an important part of the human experience. We feel a variety of different things, and the ability to name these feelings is helpful in increasing self-awareness and self-understanding. So how can we understand our emotions? Well, a list of emotions can help us think about how we experience each emotion.
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There are various theories of emotions that help organize different emotions and understand their relationships with each other. The best known of these theories is the discrete (or fundamental) theory of emotions. This was the theory used in the film From the inside to the outside. The basic assumption is that emotions are distinct and distinct things and that they are fundamental because they arise from the accomplishment of basic life tasks, such as escaping a predator (Ekman, 1999).

The list of emotions in this theory includes:

Just because these emotions are basic and discrete doesn’t mean they can’t vary in intensity. For example, each basic emotion can encompass a variety of emotional experiences. We will describe them in more detail below.

fear
Fear is a powerfully activating, avoidance-driven negative emotion that we tend to feel in response to threats. Here is a list of emotions related to fear:
Fury
Like fear, anger is a powerfully activating negative emotion. But unlike fear, it is an emotion driven by an approach. When we are angry, we want to approach the object of our anger rather than running away from it. Here is a list of emotions associated with anger:

• annoyed
• frustrated
• bitter
• angry
• mad
• Insult
• vindictive

disgust
Disgust is an emotion driven by avoidance. There is something we do not want to experience or experience that we want to get away from. Here are some words related to disgust:

• I don’t like it
• disgust
• nausea
• aversion
• Insult
• horrified

Although the basic theory of emotions is logical, others have argued that emotions are not different things. They do not have a specific location in the brain, they almost always occur simultaneously and there are many mixtures of emotions. For these reasons, psychologists developed the circumplex model of emotions (Russell, 1980).

This model suggests that emotions can be mapped in a circle. There are two axes: one axis goes from high to low energy; The other axis goes from high pleasure to low pleasure. Early researchers believed that every emotion could be classified into this circle. However, recent research suggests that more than two dimensions may be needed to understand and map emotions. For example, one study suggests that it is useful to map emotions based on their level of control and their usefulness. Additionally, two additional dimensions are added (Trnka et al., 2016). Essentially, the only thing we are truly sure of about emotions is the fact that they are complex.

Here is a list of emotions from the Circoplex emotional model:

Positive energetic emotions:

• upset
• delighted
• surprised

Weak-energy positive emotions: High-energy negative emotions: Weak-energy negative emotions:

Another well-known emotion model is Plutnik’s wheel. This wheel suggests that there are primary, secondary and tertiary emotions. Each of the emotions on the wheel can be combined to create new emotions. Here is a list of emotions from Plutnik’s model:

ecstasy

admiration terror stupefaction Grief disgust Fury vigilance

Positive emotions are pleasant or desirable states. When we think of positive emotions, we often think of happiness. But positive emotions have much more to offer. They range from high-energy emotions like excitement to low-energy positive emotions like calm. The extent to which we find these emotional states pleasant is up to us. Some of us prefer excitement to calm, others prefer the opposite. And some have suggested that there are genetic bases for these preferences (e.g. COMT gene).

Here is a list of some of the most common positive emotions:

Negative emotions are unpleasant or undesirable conditions. But just because they’re uncomfortable doesn’t mean they’re not useful. Negative emotions help us do important things in our lives. For example, fear helps us escape from a tiger, anger helps us advocate for our own needs, and sadness helps us gain perspective or seek social support. We need negative emotions as much as positive emotions. When it comes to our well-being, we just have to learn how to do it Regulate emotions effective.

Here is a list of some of the most common negative emotions:

In addition to the emotion words mentioned above, here are some additional “feeling” expressions. This included slang and other words that just didn’t fit with the list of emotions above.

Words and expressions “feel”:

• the feeling of being empty
• to have the desire to disappear
• feel good
• who have heebie-jeebies
• I feel like a fraud
• I’m upset
• it goes by post
• Be lit by gas

Our full list of emotions may be too long for children. It’s probably best to start with a few emotions and go from there. That’s why people try to simplify emotion lists for children and make it easier for them to learn new emotions.

We have also developed tools that can help children better understand their emotions. First of all, our emotional coloring book includes downloadable coloring pages of a cute puppy showing various emotional expressions. We also have emotional puppy cards This can be downloaded and stuck on the fridge or wall for children to learn.

Here are some more emotion words for adults:

• sexy
• sensual
• classy and attractive
• stimulating
• risk
• rough

Learn about your emotions and how to manage them emotional abilities Page. Discover activities on our site that will help you work on your emotions Emotional activities Page. These sites gather information on all sorts of emotional topics.

Want to know more about some of these emotions? Here are some related articles:

• Emotion: definition, theories and list of emotions​
• Emotional unavailability: definition, causes and signs
• Positive emotions: list, more than 90 examples, theories and tips
• Emotional distancing: definition, causes and signs
• ​Emotional numbness: definition, causes and how to deal with it
• Emotional dysregulation: definition, examples and tips

• Bradley, MM and Lang, PJ (1999). Affective norms for English words (ANEW): Instruction manual and affective judgments (Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 25-36). Technical Report C-1, Center for Psychophysiological Research, University of Florida.
• Ekman, P. (1999). Basic emotions. Handbook of Cognition and Emotion, 98(45-60), 16.
• Russell, J. A. (1980). A circumplex model of affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39(6), 1161.
• Trnka, R., Lačev, A., Balcar, K., Kuška, M. and Tavel, P. (2016). Modeling the semantic space of emotions by projection of 3D hypercubes: an innovative analytical approach to the psychology of emotions. Limits of psychology, 7522.