Theme
Emotions: synonyms worth the distinction
Feeling words differ mainly by intensity, and intensity is exactly what a thesaurus list flattens. Agony is not the same size as pain, and apprehension is not the same size as dread. Every entry here names the strength as well as the sense.
Start hereOne per tier, easiest first
The whole shelfGrouped by difficulty tier
FoothillsTier 1 · everyday words · 12 words
Words you already use, paired with a synonym you probably also know.
TreelineTier 2 · one step up · 24 words
Familiar words, with a synonym that sits slightly outside daily speech.
- affectionnounheart
- agonynountorment
- ambitionnoundream
- challengingadjectiveambitious
- entertainverbhold
- ethicaladjectivehonorable
- fearverbdread
- fondadjectivepartial
- fussnountrouble
- gratefuladjectivethankful
- grudgenounscore
- harassmentnountorment
- harryverbplague
- jollyadjectivegay
- moodyadjectivedark
- ragenouncult
- regretnounsorrow
- restlessadjectiveitchy
- screamingnounscreeching
- stabnounthrust
- tenderadjectivefond
- terrifiedadjectivefrightened
- urgenounitch
- wishingnounwant
RidgelineTier 3 · solid vocabulary · 36 words
The middle of the bank, where the near misses start to bite.
- apprehensionnoundread
- avidadjectivegreedy
- closenessnounintimacy
- compulsionnouncoercion
- dazenounshock
- disappointmentnounletdown
- egotisticaladjectivevain
- eruptverbbreak
- fancynounfondness
- fearverbdread
- ferventadjectivefiery
- fondadjectivepartial
- forebodingnounpremonition
- frenziedadjectivemanic
- fussnountrouble
- gladadjectivehappy
- guiltyadjectiveshamed
- hostilitynounenmity
- impatientadjectiveraring
- impulsenounwhim
- joyfuladjectiveelated
- obsceneadjectiverepulsive
- preferencenountaste
- quietadjectivestill
- reliefnouneasing
- reverencenounawe
- romanticadjectiveamorous
- scaryadjectivechilling
- secureadjectivestrong
- stabnounthrust
- sultryadjectivesensual
- tempernounirritation
- temperamentaladjectiveerratic
- thanklessadjectiveungrateful
- unsureadjectiveshy
- worriedadjectiveupset
High CampTier 4 · testing · 23 words
Words that turn up in serious reading rather than in conversation.
- astonishmentnounamazement
- avidadjectivegreedy
- blitheadjectivelighthearted
- closenessnounintimacy
- dandernounhackles
- delightnoundelectation
- despondentadjectiveheartsick
- dispiritedadjectivedown
- exaltverbinspire
- excitementnounexhilaration
- frissonnounchill
- hotheadedadjectiveirascible
- impulsenounwhim
- languidadjectivedreamy
- mournfuladjectivedoleful
- provokingadjectiveagitating
- romanticadjectiveamorous
- tempernounirritation
- thanklessadjectiveungrateful
- unbiasedadjectiveindifferent
- upliftverbintoxicate
- wildnessnounabandon
- zealnounelan
SummitTier 5 · rare and formal · 7 words
The rare register: literary, legal and technical English.
Emotions is one shelf of many
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