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Emotions and feelings word bank
Words for happy, sad, scared, angry, surprised, calm and embarrassed, each from mild to strong, with example sentences.
About this word bank
Strong stories make the reader feel something, and that starts with the characters' feelings. "Happy" and "sad" are fine, but they don't tell the reader how happy or how sad. This word bank puts each feeling on a scale from mild to strong, so your child can pick the word that fits the moment.
A character who is "uneasy" at the start and "terrified" by the end shows the tension building. Choosing the right point on the scale is what examiners mean by precise vocabulary.
In each group the words run from mild to strong.
The words
Happy
From quietly pleased to bursting with joy.
- content
- pleased
- glad
- cheerful
- delighted
- joyful
- thrilled
- elated
- overjoyed
- jubilant
- ecstatic
Maya was content to sit by the window, listening to the rain.
When the results were read out, the whole team was jubilant, leaping and hugging on the muddy pitch.
Sad
From a small let-down to a broken heart.
- disappointed
- glum
- unhappy
- downcast
- gloomy
- miserable
- dejected
- sorrowful
- heartbroken
- devastated
- distraught
Sam trailed home, downcast, kicking the same stone all the way up the hill.
Grandad's old dog had gone, and Priya was heartbroken for weeks.
Scared
From a flicker of worry to frozen with fear.
- uneasy
- nervous
- anxious
- apprehensive
- alarmed
- frightened
- fearful
- panic-stricken
- terrified
- petrified
- horrified
An uneasy feeling crept over Leo as the footsteps behind him stopped when he did.
Petrified, Ellie pressed herself against the cold wall and held her breath.
Angry
From mildly annoyed to boiling over.
- irritated
- annoyed
- cross
- exasperated
- indignant
- resentful
- furious
- livid
- seething
- enraged
- incensed
Mum was exasperated: it was the third time that week the hamster had escaped.
Seething, Josh crumpled the note and hurled it into the bin.
Surprised
From a little puzzled to lost for words.
- puzzled
- startled
- taken aback
- amazed
- astonished
- astounded
- stunned
- staggered
- dumbfounded
- flabbergasted
Ava was taken aback when the quiet new boy stood up and sang.
We were dumbfounded: the box we had buried a year ago was sitting on the doorstep.
Calm and relieved
For the moment the danger passes, or a quiet scene.
- relaxed
- at ease
- settled
- peaceful
- untroubled
- composed
- relieved
- soothed
- serene
- tranquil
Once the lifeboat reached them, Noah felt his shoulders drop; he was so relieved he laughed out loud.
The lake was serene at dawn, and so was Gran, sipping tea on the jetty.
Brave and determined
For a character who faces a challenge.
- hopeful
- willing
- confident
- determined
- bold
- daring
- courageous
- fearless
- heroic
- unstoppable
Determined not to give up, Isla gripped the rope and pulled herself onto the ledge.
Embarrassed
From a little awkward to wishing the ground would swallow you up.
- awkward
- self-conscious
- sheepish
- flustered
- embarrassed
- ashamed
- humiliated
- mortified
Kai gave a sheepish grin as the whole class turned to look at his ringing bag.
How to use this word bank without overdoing it
- Match the word to the moment. Save the strongest words (petrified, livid, ecstatic) for the high point of the story, so the feeling grows.
- Show the feeling as well as naming it. "Petrified" works best next to an action: "Petrified, she held her breath."
- One feelings word per moment is plenty. Two strong words side by side ("furious and livid") cancel each other out.
- Check the word is right for the character's age. A seven-year-old in a story is more likely to be "cross" than "incensed".
Practice: Feelings on a scale
- Pick one feeling, such as scared.
- Write three short sentences about the same character: one mild (uneasy), one middling (frightened) and one strong (terrified).
- Add an action to each sentence that shows the feeling, such as trembling hands or a held breath.
- Read them aloud. Which one would make the best ending to a scary scene?
Get feedback on a story
Used some new words? Your child can write a story and get clear, kind feedback on what to improve next.
Free monthly writing competition
A new story prompt every month: a great place to try out the words from this bank.
Learn the meanings: Feelings & moods
Not sure what a word means? The 11+ vocabulary pages explain words like these, with examples and a quick quiz.
Questions parents ask
What are good words to describe feelings for 11+ creative writing?
Pick a word that shows how strong the feeling is. For happy: content, delighted, elated, ecstatic. For sad: glum, miserable, heartbroken. For scared: uneasy, anxious, terrified, petrified. For angry: irritated, exasperated, furious, livid.
Should my child name feelings or show them?
Both. A precise feelings word tells the reader what the character feels; an action or detail (shaking hands, a lump in the throat) lets them feel it too. The best 11+ stories pair a well-chosen word with a short action.
Is "happy" a bad word to use in a story?
No word is banned, but "happy" is vague. Swapping it for a word that shows exactly how happy, such as "relieved" or "overjoyed", tells the reader more in the same space.