Talking about our emotions can be challenging — especially if you grew up thinking in terms of simply feeling good vs. feeling bad or feeling happy vs. feeling sad.
Emotions aren’t good or bad. Sure, they’re messy and complicated. But emotions are a core part of who you are. It’s important and valuable to be able to notice them, name them, and talk about them.
At Good Good Good, we share positive news and ways to make a difference — so we love hopefulness, positivity, and things that feel good.
But we’ve also learned from Brené Brown that you cannot selectively numb emotion. It’s not possible to feel full joy without also experiencing sorrow; feel optimism without acknowledging the potential of what could go wrong; or see light without understanding darkness.
So we’ve worked to create a helpful guide to emotions — so each of us can explore our feelings and identify them with precision and specificity.
We’re kicking this resource off with a breakdown of the most common categories of emotions, based on conceptual frameworks created by leading researchers and mental health practitioners. After that, you can scroll on through to a list of traditionally positive emotions and negative emotions — followed by a complete list (more than any other article on the internet) of hundreds of emotions.
Your emotions are valid and important. Whether you’re utilizing this resource for yourself or for others, we hope it feels helpful.
You might also like: Ultimate List of Mood Words | Ultimate List of Personality Traits | List of Good Character Traits
From Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions:
Robert Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions is a conceptual framework that categorizes human emotions into a wheel structure. The wheel outlines eight primary emotions: joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, and anticipation — and asserts that they each have a polar opposite. Take, for instance, joy versus sadness.
Plutchik’s model also posits that these primary emotions can combine to form secondary emotions — coined as “emotional dyads.” An example of this is how joy and trust can combine to create love.
- Anger
- Fear
- Sadness
- Disgust
- Surprise
- Anticipation
- Trust
- Joy
From Ekmans’ Atlas of Emotions:
Paul Ekman’s widely accepted theory of basic emotions and their expressions proposes that we have six basic emotions: sadness, happiness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.
You can explore the Atlas of Emotions interactive website — which is supported by the Dalai Lama.
- Anger
- Fear
- Disgust
- Sadness
- Enjoyment
From Cowen and Keltner’s 2017 Study:
In 2017, Alan S. Cowena and Dacher Keltner published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences analyzing emotional states. The researchers analyzed thousands of short videos in which people shared about their emotions — and then went on to find that these videos “reliably elicit 27 distinct varieties of reported emotional states.”
- Admiration
- Adoration
- Aesthetic Appreciation
- Amusement
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Awe
- Awkwardness
- Boredom
- Calmness
- Confusion
- Craving
- Disgust
- Empathic Pain
- Entrancement
- Excitement
- Fear
- Horror
- Interest
- Joy
- Nostalgia
- Relief
- Romance
- Sadness
- Satisfaction
- Sexual Desire
- Surprise
List of Positive Emotion Words:
- Accomplished
- Admiration
- Adoration
- Affection
- Altruistic
- Amazed
- Amused
- Appreciative
- Ardent
- Astonished
- Aware
- Awed
- Beautiful
- Beguiled
- Belonging
- Benevolent
- Blissful
- Boastful
- Brave
- Bright
- Buoyant
- Calm
- Captivated
- Carefree
- Caring
- Charmed
- Cheerful
- Comfortable
- Committed
- Compassionate
- Composed
- Confident
- Content
- Contented
- Cordial
- Courageous
- Cozy
- Creative
- Curious
- Dazzled
- Delighted
- Determined
- Dreamy
- Eager
- Ecstatic
- Elated
- Empowered
- Enchanted
- Encouraged
- Energized
- Enthralled
- Enthusiastic
- Excited
- Exhilarated
- Exuberant
- Faithful
- Fascinated
- Fond
- Forgiving
- Friendly
- Fulfilled
- Gallant
- Generous
- Giddy
- Glad
- Gleaming
- Gleeful
- Glorious
- Glowing
- Goofy
- Gorgeous
- Gracious
- Grateful
- Happy
- Hardworking
- Harmonious
- Heartfelt
- Heartwarming
- Heavenly
- High-spirited
- Honorable
- Honored
- Hopeful
- Humble
- Humbled
- Inspired
- Interested
- Invigorated
- Invincible
- Jocose
- Jocund
- Jovial
- Joyful
- Joyous
- Jubilant
- Keen
- Kindhearted
- Laughing
- Light-hearted
- Lively
- Loyal
- Lucid
- Lucky
- Marvelous
- Meditative
- Merry
- Motivated
- Nurtured
- Optimistic
- Overjoyed
- Passionate
- Patient
- Peaceful
- Pleased
- Polite
- Proud
- Radiant
- Reassured
- Rejuvenated
- Relaxed
- Relieved
- Resilient
- Respectful
- Reverent
- Robust
- Sanguine
- Satisfied
- Secure
- Sensational
- Sincere
- Spirited
- Surprised
- Sympathetic
- Tender
- Tender-hearted
- Thrilled
- Tranquil
- Trusting
- Unwavering
- Valiant
- Validated
- Valued
- Vibrant
- Victorious
- Vigilant
- Vivacious
- Warm
- Welcomed
- Welcoming
- Wholesome
- Willing
- Wise
- Worshipful
- Yearned For
- Youthful
- Zeal
- Zealous
- Zen
- Zest
- Zestful
List of Negative Emotion Words:
- Abandoned
- Aggravated
- Agitated
- Agony
- Alarmed
- Anger
- Anguish
- Animosity
- Annoyed
- Anxiety
- Apathetic
- Apprehensive
- Ashamed
- Awkward
- Bashful
- Bereaved
- Betrayed
- Bewildered
- Bitter
- Blue
- Bored
- Broken
- Brooding
- Brutal
- Burdened
- Burned-out
- Clamorous
- Cold
- Complacent
- Confused
- Covetous
- Cranky
- Cruel
- Crushed
- Culpable
- Cursed
- Cynical
- Defeated
- Deflated
- Delinquent
- Demoralized
- Depressed
- Desolate
- Despair
- Detached
- Devastated
- Disappointed
- Disarmed
- Discouraged
- Disgust
- Disgusted
- Disheartened
- Dismal
- Dismayed
- Disoriented
- Distraught
- Distressed
- Doubtful
- Down
- Downhearted
- Dreadful
- Dubious
- Embarrassed
- Enraged
- Exasperated
- Exhausted
- Fearful
- Foreboding
- Frustrated
- Furious
- Grief
- Grieved
- Grudge
- Grumpy
- Guilty
- Harassed
- Haunted
- Heartbroken
- Hollow
- Homesick
- Hostile
- Humiliated
- Hurt
- Ignored
- Impatient
- Inadequate
- Incensed
- Insecure
- Insulted
- Intimidated
- Irked
- Irritated
- Isolated
- Jealous
- Lonely
- Lost
- Mad
- Miserable
- Misapprehended
- Misguided
- Misjudged
- Misunderstood
- Mournful
- Nervous
- Offbeat
- Outraged
- Overburdened
- Overwhelmed
- Pained
- Panicked
- Paranoid
- Pessimistic
- Pity
- Pressured
- Provoked
- Querulous
- Rejected
- Regretful
- Repentant
- Resentful
- Sad
- Scared
- Shameful
- Sore
- Stress
- Stressed
- Terrified
- Tired
- Tormented
- Tragic
- Unappreciated
- Uncomfortable
- Underappreciated
- Uneasy
- Unfulfilled
- Unhappy
- Unheard
- Unimpressed
- Unloved
- Unmotivated
- Unpleasant
- Upset
- Violated
- Vexed
- Worried
- Wrathful
- Wretched
Complete List of Feelings and Emotions:
- Abandoned
- Absorbed
- Acceptance
- Accomplished
- Admiration
- Adoration
- Affection
- Aggravated
- Agitated
- Agony
- Alarmed
- Alerted
- Alive
- Altruistic
- Amazed
- Ambiguous
- Amused
- Anger
- Anguish
- Animosity
- Annoyance
- Annoyed
- Anxiety
- Apathetic
- Appreciative
- Apprehensive
- Ardent
- Aroused
- Ashamed
- Astonished
- Aware
- Awed
- Awkward
- Baffled
- Bashful
- Beautiful
- Beguiled
- Belonging
- Bemused
- Benevolent
- Bereaved
- Betrayed
- Bewildered
- Bewildering
- Bewitched
- Bitter
- Bittersweet
- Blaming
- Blinding
- Blissful
- Blue
- Blurred
- Blushing
- Boastful
- Bold
- Bombarded
- Bored
- Bothered
- Brave
- Breathless
- Breezy
- Bright
- Broken
- Brooding
- Brutal
- Buoyant
- Burdened
- Burned-out
- Burnt
- Bursting
- Busy
- Calm
- Captivated
- Captive
- Carefree
- Careful
- Caring
- Cautious
- Chagrined
- Charmed
- Cheerful
- Cheerless
- Choked
- Clamorous
- Clouded
- Coiled
- Cold
- Comfortable
- Committed
- Compassionate
- Complacent
- Composed
- Concerned
- Confident
- Confused
- Constrained
- Consumed
- Contemplative
- Contempt
- Content
- Contented
- Cordial
- Courageous
- Covetous
- Cozy
- Crafty
- Cranky
- Craving
- Creative
- Cruel
- Crushed
- Culpable
- Curious
- Curled-up
- Cursed
- Cut-off
- Cynical
- Dazed
- Dazzled
- Defeated
- Defiant
- Deflated
- Delighted
- Delinquent
- Delirious
- Deluded
- Demoralized
- Depressed
- Desolate
- Despair
- Detached
- Determined
- Devastated
- Disappointed
- Disarmed
- Discombobulated
- Discomposed
- Disconnected
- Discontent
- Discouraged
- Disgust
- Disgusted
- Disgustful
- Disheartened
- Disillusioned
- Dismal
- Dismayed
- Disoriented
- Displeased
- Displeasing
- Disquieted
- Distracted
- Distraught
- Distressed
- Disturbed
- Doting
- Doubtful
- Down
- Downhearted
- Drained
- Dreadful
- Dreamy
- Dubious
- Dumbfounded
- Eager
- Ecstatic
- Elated
- Embarrassed
- Empowered
- Enchanted
- Encouraged
- Energized
- Enraged
- Enthralled
- Enthusiastic
- Envy
- Exasperated
- Excited
- Exhausted
- Exhilarated
- Exuberant
- Faint
- Faithful
- Fascinated
- Fatigued
- Fawning
- Fearful
- Fearless
- Ferocious
- Festive
- Feverish
- Fierce
- Flabbergasted
- Flattered
- Flawed
- Flippant
- Flustered
- Fond
- Foolish
- Forced
- Forceful
- Foreboding
- Forgiving
- Formidable
- Fragile
- Frank
- Frantic
- Free
- Frenzied
- Friendly
- Frustrated
- Fulfilled
- Funny
- Furious
- Gallant
- Generous
- Giddy
- Giggly
- Glad
- Gleaming
- Gleeful
- Gloomy
- Glorious
- Glowing
- Goofy
- Gorgeous
- Gracious
- Grandiose
- Grateful
- Greedy
- Grief
- Grieved
- Grim
- Grisly
- Groovy
- Gross
- Grotesque
- Grouchy
- Grudge
- Gruesome
- Grumpy
- Guilty
- Gullible
- Gutsy
- Happy
- Harassed
- Hardworking
- Harmonious
- Hasty
- Hateful
- Haunted
- Headstrong
- Heartbroken
- Heartening
- Heartfelt
- Heartwarming
- Heated
- Heavenly
- Heavy
- Helpless
- Hesitant
- High-spirited
- Hollow
- Homesick
- Honorable
- Honored
- Hopeful
- Hopeless
- Horrible
- Horrified
- Hostile
- Hot-tempered
- Humble
- Humbled
- Humiliated
- Hungover
- Hungry
- Hurt
- Hurtful
- Hushed
- Hyper-aware
- Hyperactive
- Hysterical
- Ignored
- Ill
- Illusioned
- Impassioned
- Impatient
- Imperturbable
- Impressed
- Impulsive
- Inadequate
- Incensed
- Incomprehensible
- Indifferent
- Indignant
- Infatuated
- Infuriated
- Injured
- Innocent
- Inquisitive
- Insatiable
- Insecure
- Inspired
- Insulted
- Intense
- Interested
- Intimidated
- Intoxicated
- Intrigued
- Intrusive
- Invaded
- Invigorated
- Invincible
- Irked
- Irritated
- Isolated
- Jaded
- Jarring
- Jaunty
- Jealous
- Jeered
- Jeering
- Jinxed
- Jittery
- Jocose
- Jocund
- Jolted
- Jovial
- Joviality
- Joyful
- Joyless
- Joyous
- Jubilant
- Judged
- Judgmental
- Judicious
- Jumpy
- Keen
- Kid-like
- Kindhearted
- Kindled
- Kissable
- Knowledgeable
- Laid-back
- Lamenting
- Laughter
- Lazy
- Lethargic
- Liberated
- Light-hearted
- Lingering
- Listless
- Liveliness
- Lively
- Loathing
- Loathsome
- Lofty
- Loneliness
- Lonely
- Longing
- Lost
- Lovestruck
- Loving
- Lovingly
- Low-spirited
- Loyal
- Lucid
- Lucky
- Lustful
- Lyrical
- Mad
- Madly in Love
- Magnanimous
- Malcontent
- Malevolent
- Malicious
- Manic
- Manipulated
- Marveled
- Marvelous
- Mean-spirited
- Meddlesome
- Meditative
- Meek
- Melancholy
- Mellow
- Melodious
- Melodramatic
- Merciful
- Merciless
- Merry
- Mesmerized
- Messed up
- Miffed
- Mighty
- Mild
- Mind-blowing
- Mind-boggled
- Mindful
- Mirthful
- Misapprehended
- Mischievous
- Miserable
- Miserly
- Misgiving
- Misguided
- Misinterpreted
- Misjudged
- Mistrustful
- Misunderstood
- Mocked
- Modest
- Moody
- Morbid
- Morose
- Mortified
- Motivated
- Mourned
- Mournful
- Mourning
- Moved
- Muddled
- Multiplying
- Naive
- Naughty
- Needy
- Neglected
- Negligent
- Negligible
- Nervous
- Nervy
- Nonchalant
- Nostalgic
- Nourished
- Numb
- Nurtured
- Nurturing
- Oblivious
- Observant
- Obsessed
- Offbeat
- Optimistic
- Ostracized
- Outraged
- Overawed
- Overburdened
- Overgrown
- Overindulgent
- Overjoyed
- Overreacting
- Oversensitive
- Overstimulated
- Overwhelmed
- Overworked
- Overzealous
- Pained
- Painful
- Panicked
- Panicky
- Paranoid
- Passionate
- Patient
- Peaceful
- Pensive
- Perplexed
- Persevering
- Pity
- Placid
- Playful
- Pleasant
- Pleased
- Poignant
- Polite
- Possessive
- Powerless
- Preoccupied
- Pressured
- Prickly
- Pride
- Protective
- Proud
- Provoked
- Prudent
- Puzzled
- Puzzling
- Quaintly
- Qualified
- Quarrelsome
- Quashed
- Quaver
- Quelled
- Quenched
- Quenchless
- Querulous
- Questioning
- Quick-tempered
- Quiet
- Quirky
- Quiver
- Quivering
- Quizzical
- Radiant
- Rattled
- Ravished
- Reassured
- Regal
- Regretful
- Reinvigorated
- Rejected
- Rejoicing
- Rejuvenated
- Relaxed
- Relieved
- Reluctant
- Remorseful
- Repentant
- Repulsed
- Resentful
- Resigned
- Resilient
- Resolute
- Resplendent
- Restless
- Restored
- Reverent
- Riled Up
- Robust
- Roused
- Sadness
- Sanguine
- Sassy
- Satisfaction
- Satisfied
- Scared
- Secure
- Self-confidence
- Sensational
- Sensitive
- Sentimental
- Serene
- Serenity
- Shame
- Shameful
- Shy
- Silly
- Sincere
- Skeptical
- Sore
- Sorrow
- Sorrowful
- Spirited
- Spontaneous
- Startled
- Stress
- Stressed
- Stressed-Out
- Stricken
- Strong
- Struggling
- Supportive
- Surprise
- Surprised
- Suspicion
- Suspicious
- Sympathetic
- Sympathy
- Tantalized
- Tearful
- Teary-Eyed
- Tempestuous
- Tenacious
- Tender
- Tender-Hearted
- Tenderness
- Tense
- Terrific
- Terrified
- Thankful
- Thirsty
- Thoughtful
- Thrill
- Thrilled
- Thunderstruck
- Timid
- Tired
- Tolerant
- Tormented
- Torn
- Touched
- Tragic
- Tranquility
- Transfixed
- Transformed
- Trapped
- Trepid
- Triumphant
- Troubled
- Trust
- Unaffected
- Unappreciated
- Unattached
- Unbalanced
- Uncertain
- Uncomfortable
- Underappreciated
- Underrepresented
- Uneasy
- Unfazed
- Unfiltered
- Unforeseen
- Unforgiving
- Unfulfilled
- Ungrateful
- Unhappy
- Unheard
- Unimpressed
- Uninspired
- Uninvolved
- Unloved
- Unmotivated
- Unnerved
- Unpleasant
- Unquestioning
- Unraveled
- Unrelenting
- Unrequited
- Unreserved
- Unresolved
- Unresponsive
- Unruly
- Unseen
- Unsettled
- Unsteady
- Unwanted
- Unwavering
- Unworthy
- Unyielding
- Upset
- Valiant
- Validated
- Valued
- Vengeful
- Vexed
- Vibrant
- Victimized
- Victorious
- Vigilant
- Vindicated
- Violated
- Vivacious
- Vivid
- Volatile
- Voluptuous
- Voracious
- Vulnerable
- Warm
- Warm-Hearted
- Wary
- Wavering
- Wearied
- Weary
- Weepy
- Welcomed
- Welcoming
- Wholesome
- Wild
- Willful
- Willing
- Winsome
- Wise
- Wistful
- Withdrawn
- Wonder
- Wondering
- Wondrous
- Woozy
- Worried
- Worrying
- Worshipful
- Wrathful
- Wretched
- Xenial
- Xenophobic
- Yearned For
- Yearning
- Youthful
- Youthful Exuberance
- Zeal
- Zealous
- Zen
- Zest
- Zestful
