List of Emotions & Feelings
A large, organized vocabulary of feeling words, grouped by core emotion, to help you put the right name to what you feel.
About this tool
Most of us run on a tiny emotional vocabulary. Good, bad, fine, stressed, tired. The problem is that those broad words flatten very different experiences into one, which makes them harder to understand and harder to do anything about. A richer feelings list gives you the words to tell the difference between disappointed and betrayed, or between nervous and excited.
This matters more than it sounds. Psychologists call the ability to name emotions precisely emotional granularity, and people who have it tend to regulate their emotions better, react less impulsively, and report better mental health. The act of labeling a feeling, called affect labeling, appears to dampen the brain's threat response, which is why simply finding the right word can take some of the heat out of a moment.
The list below is organized by a handful of core emotions, with related feelings grouped underneath. It is not exhaustive, and emotions often blend, so you may need more than one word. Use it as a menu: when you feel off, scan for the words that fit, then ask what that specific feeling might be telling you.
- Kashdan TB, Barrett LF, McKnight PE. Unpacking emotion differentiation. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2015;24(1):10-16.
- Lieberman MD, et al. Putting feelings into words: affect labeling disrupts amygdala activity. Psychol Sci. 2007;18(5):421-428.
- Plutchik R. The nature of emotions. Am Sci. 2001;89(4):344-350.
List of Emotions & Feelings FAQ
Why use a list of emotions?
It expands your emotional vocabulary so you can name what you feel precisely instead of defaulting to good, bad, or fine. Precise naming is linked to better emotion regulation and lower reactivity.
How is this list organized?
By a handful of core emotions, with related and more specific feelings grouped underneath each one. Scan the family that fits, then read down to find the most accurate word.
What if I feel more than one emotion?
That is normal and very common. Name each one. Mixed feelings, like relief and grief together, are often the most honest description.
What do I do once I name the feeling?
Ask what it needs. Sadness often wants comfort, anger often points to a boundary, and anxiety often points to something uncertain that matters to you.
Is this the same as a feelings wheel?
It covers the same vocabulary in a list rather than a circle. Some people prefer the visual wheel, others prefer scanning a list. Use whichever helps you land on the right word.